January 6, 2017 Carthage Bulldogs Gymnasium - Friday, January 6, 2017, saw the visiting Center Lady Roughriders Varsity Basketball team fight back after trailing 15-2 to the Carthage Lady ‘Dogs at the conclusion of the first period. The Lady ‘Riders fought their way back into the ballgame but eventually lost by a narrow 42-38 margin. The game was the District 16 Class 4A opener for both teams. Center is now 1-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Carthage is 8-3, 0-1.
Center trailed 13-0 with just 1:43 left in the first quarter when MaKayla Hubbard sank two free throws to give CHS their first and only points of the opening stanza.
The second period saw Center out-score the Lady Bulldogs 8-7 and fight their way to within 10-22 of Carthage at the midway intermission.
Makayla Rankin scored twice for the Lady Roughriders, during the third period, but CHS still found themselves trailing Carthage 36-22 going into the final period of play.
Guard Taylor Nichols hit a bucket to start the fourth quarter and pull Center to within 24-36. She also banked in a 3-pointer with 6:22 left in the contest to pull CHS to within 27-36 of the Lady ‘Dogs. Additional scores, during the fourth period, by Nichols, Malaisha Cartwright, Shanya Williams, and Anijah Harper helped the Lady Roughriders get back into the contest but ultimately Carthage tightened up defensively and was able to hold on for the 4-point win, despite a last second 3-point bomb sank by Center’s Malaisha Cartwright.
Scoring for the Lady ‘Riders were: Taylor Nichols with 9 points, JaKayla Weathered and Malaisha Cartwright with 5 points each, and MaKayla Hubbard with four points.
Center Head Coach Arianna Rodriguez will regroup the Lady ‘Riders who will play their next conference game next Tuesday, January 10, at home against the Rusk Lady Eagles. Tip off will be at 5 p.m. for sub-varsity, with varsity following.
In Junior Varsity action on Friday, the Lady Bulldogs led the Lady Roughriders 23-17 at the end of the third quarter and pulled away to a 36-26 win at the final buzzer.
