In a game with 14 threes made between the two teams, McCracken County junior Mason Clements’ five triples helped lift the Lady Mustangs to the 50-39 win over Graves County. The 21-7 Lady Mustangs, who have won seven of their last eight, overcame an early deficit and made some strong defensive stands in the heart of the game to take home the victory.
“We’ve won seven of our last eight. We began the year two and three, then we’ve gone 19-4 since then,” McCracken head coach Scott Sivills said following the victory. “So proud of the mental toughness of our kids to come here on the road, and it be the fourth game this week, and go 4-0. I think we’re playing some of our best basketball, but I thought we got better as the game went on tonight.”
Two separate runs by the Lady Mustangs made the difference in their win. Graves came out and set the tone with threes by Kinsey Burgess and Isla Manning, which put them up 12-4 halfway through the opening frame. The visiting Lady Mustangs battled back with a pair of threes by Skater Houser and Mason Clements, and held a 25-22 advantage at halftime.
Clements stayed hot out of the break, burying another pair of triples, a huge part of a 10-2 run that gave McCracken their first double-digit lead of the game. Clements and Houser have been lights out shooting the ball as of late, and have helped McCracken establish their identity as a shooting team, as well as make it easier for other stars to contribute.
“Mason Clements was light out tonight offensively. Having her and Skater Houser shoot the way they’ve been shooting the last few games, it just opens things up for Ava, who I thought commanded the ball down the stretch and really got us into our offense,” Sivills said. “The old quote is, ‘Shooters shoot’ and you basically have to have amnesia. If you miss one, you have to come back and shoot it again.”
After gaining that 35-24 advantage, offense from both sides slowed down tremendously. McCracken mustered just three points for the next six minutes of game time, and allowed the Lady Eagles to bring it to within seven with another Burgess three with four minutes left in the game.
Clements responded with her fifth three of the night, but Ella Kemp hopped in the mix with a three to bring it back to seven.
After that quick spurt, McCracken was able to hold onto their lead after Graves began to intentionally foul. Ava Hughes was the main facilitator down the stretch, making five of her six attempts from the line in the fourth quarter. Graves was not able to spark a run, as 50-39 displayed as the final buzzer sounded.'
Clements led McCracken with 15 off five made threes, Hughes behind her with 12 thanks to those late free throws. Ella Kemp finished with a team-high 11 for the home team, Burgess next in line with 9 from behind the arc.
McCracken has just two games left in the regular season next week, their first at home on Tuesday against Calloway, before wrapping up with a road game against Madisonville-North Hopkins. Graves County moves on to play Ohio County on Saturday as apart of the Vintage Classic, before finishing their regular season with games against Marshall and Calloway next week.
Game stats
McCraken County 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 — 50
Graves County 15 | 7 | 4 | 13 — 39
MC- M Clements 15, A Hughes 12, S Houser 8, L Bolen 6, R Hill 6, A Hammonds 3
GC- E Kemp 11, K Burgess 9, P Hayden 8, G Martin 4, C Goatley 4, I Manning 3