Ousting The Defending Champions

Lady Cardinals Defeat Shiloh Christian 52-33

FARMINGTON — Coach Brad Johnson preached defense and for nearly the entire first-half the Farmington girls were able to cast down any imagination Shiloh Christian had of making a shot.

Besides playing sound fundamental defense, the Farmington girls basketball team took up the collection basket with a solid rebounding game in harvesting a 52-33 conference win over Shiloh Christian on Friday.

“We did a good job of rebounding both offensively and defensively,” Johnson said.

The Saints’ choir was singing the blues with the Farmington girls absolutely refusing to commit any cardinal sins on defense. Shiloh couldn’t get any shots to drop in the first quarter and struggled throughout the first half.

“We got a great defensive effort from a lot of different kids,” Johnson said.

Farmington put the first six points of the game on the scoreboard, Haley Maxwell stopped and popped, then Lexie Lewis added a bucket. Dribble penetration by Tiffany Rhame broke down the Saint’s defense and Lewis was fouled on a follow shot, making both.

Rhame dominated the game from the point guard position. The junior pulled up for a 3-point shot from the top of the key pushing the Lady Cardinals out front, 16-5. Payton Journagan grabbed a defensive rebound and pushed the ball up the floor, finding Maxwell on the run, who was fouled and made both free throws. Tichina Scales, went 4-of-6 at the line in the half, and sank a free throw to conclude a 10-2 Farmington run to start the second stanza.

Shiloh Christian only managed a solitary field goal in the entire first half and that didn’t come until Meagan Henley got a shot to go off the backboard on a busted play with 1:27 before intermission. Farmington led 19-11 at halftime.

A strong all-around performance continued in the second half to insure Farmington would claim a conference victory.

Rhame played the floor general and distributed the basketball. After Shiloh pulled within 20-16 on a 3-point shot by Alexis Jones and Richelle Cooper’s inside basket, Rhame triggered an in-bounds play and passed to Breanna Jones for a lay- up.

Maxwell forced a pair of turnovers and scored on a breakaway. Cooper hit a free throw for the Saints, but Lewis got to the offensive glass and earned another trip to the charity stripe and made both shots. Henley hit a jumper, but Lewis was on her game.

The 6-foot-2-inch senior hit her trademark turnaround over Cooper and got a lay-up on a dish from Rhame. Jones hit a trey for Shiloh, but Lewis posted up and drew two more foul shots, again hitting a pair. Jones rebounded at the far end and worked her way up-court, getting to the hoop and was fouled. She made both for a 34-22 Farmington lead at the end of the third period.

In the fourth quarter, Jones attacked and hit a short jumper in the lane. Cameron Harris answered to keep Shiloh within 10, at 36-26, but Rene Scheyder knocked down a triple that was set up on a quick pass to Scales in the paint by Rhame that surprised the Saints. As they reacted, Scheyder was there to catch the kick-out and put Farmington ahead 39-26.

Shiloh never got back in the game and Farmington won 52-33.

“For the most part, we took care

of the basketball,” Johnson said, saying the Lady Cardinals played within themselves.

“It’s a great way to start the year,” Johnson said.

Lewis (15) and Jones (14) combined for 29 Farmington points. The Lady Cardinals got scoring contributions from Maxwell, eight; Scales, six; Rhame, five; Scheyder, three; and Anna Oxford, one.

Henley was the top scorer for Shiloh Christian with nine.

Streak shooting. Jared Martin, of Farmington, scored a dozen points in the third-quarter against Shiloh Christian, hitting a trio of three-point shots and making one the old-fashioned way. The Saints beat the Cardinals 52-40 on Friday.