Box Score Hot Shooting by Scots Not Enough
LaGRANGE, Ga. – The rematch of one of Maryville's closest games of the season proved to be another fight to the buzzer.
The Scots fell 74-71 to LaGrange, who had the highest field goal percentage of any Maryville opponent this season, shooting 48.3-percent in the contest. The Panthers also made 28 baskets, which was the second most of all Scot foes this year.
Hailey Cronk got the scoring started with a 3-pointer. Cronk had a good day for Maryville as she tied career-highs in steals with two and 3-pointers made with two.
Deep shots were key for the Scots as they shot a season-high 47.4-percent from three and made nine baskets from behind the arch. Six Maryville players made at least one three with three of those swishing two each.
LaGrange took control after the opening basket and scored 11-straight points, holding off the Scots for over four minutes of game time. Hannah Jones put a stop to the run with a layup for the visitors.
Maryville used the second quarter to chip away at the Panther lead. A 3-pointer from Courtney Carruthers cut the lead to 20-17 before LaGrange went on a 7-0 run. The Scots answered back with an 8-0 run of their own to pull within two.
The second lead of the game for Maryville came at the end of the second with a 7-0 run consisting of three made free throws and jumpers made by Carruthers and Elsa Eckenrod.
In the third quarter, the game was tied three times but Maryville kept the Panthers from taking the lead back. An Eckenrod 3-pointer with 1:01 left in the quarter gave the Scots their largest lead of the afternoon at 54-49 before a LaGrange layup cut the score to 54-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Falling Just Short
The lead stayed with the visiting Scots in the final quarter until the Panthers tied the game at 59-all with 4:40 left in regulation. Two free throws from Jordan Heifner gave the lead back to Maryville before LaGrange used a 7-0 run to take the lead 66-61 at 3:12 forcing a timeout by the Scots.
Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian said his team struggled with the Panther's late-game adjustments.
"This was frustrating because we had some opportunities to win the game, but we just didn't come up with a stop when we needed it," said Travillian. "LaGrange turned up its defensive pressure and we just didn't handle it very well."
Out of the timeout, the Scots executed well and found themselves scoring seven-straight points to be back on top of the game. The teams found themselves tied twice in the final minute and a half of the game.
In the end, the Panthers stifled the Maryville offense and made a crucial layup and three free throws down the stretch to earn their first win over the Scots since 2020.
Heifnerled Maryville with 16 points and was tied for second on the team in rebounding with four boards. Eckenrod was next for Maryville with 12 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
LaGrange's Gracie Brunel paced the Panthers and led all players with 26 points followed by Jalaya Lewis, who scored 14.
Maryville was outrebounded by two with a margin of 33-31 in favor of the home team. LaGrange used a powerful attack on the inside on the way to victory with 20 more points in the paint than the visitors. The Scots did lead the game in points off turnovers 32-22.
It is a quick turnaround for Maryville, now 8-11 overall and 5-6 in the USA South, as they travel to Huntingdon for a 2 p.m. tip Sunday. The Hawks fell to the Scots 63-55 earlier this season and currently sit at 7-12 overall and 3-7 in league play.
"We have to have short memories because we've got another tough one tomorrow at Huntingdon," said Travillian.
