Sometimes the best way to evaluate a coach is watch how he or she handles adversity. Palmer Lady Dragons (10-4) sealed the deal on late breakaway layups and easy baskets to claim a 42-26 victory over the O’Bannon Lady Greenwaves (4-7) Tuesday night.
“We just ran out of gas down the stretch,” said O’Bannon Heath Coach Isaac Morris. “We had one of our key ball handlers move away and another one get injured. So, we’re playing short handed.”
After three quarters of inept offense, the Lady Greenwaves found themselves still in position to win the game trailing by less than double digits for most of the fourth quarter. Sophomore forward Joyia Clark scored eight of her team high 12 in the quarter.
Clark’s teammates Jada Shaw and Kornisha Smith made baskets at around the four minute mark of the fourth quarter to trim the lead to 34-26 and 36-29 respectively.
Clark caught a pass in the paint rose above Palmer defenders and banked home a two pointer to account for Obannon’s only field goal of the third quarter.
O’Bannon played tough defense and a patient ball controlled offense in a low scoring first quarter to keep the score close. In the second quarter, the Lady Greenwaves committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions leading to six unanswered Palmer points.
“We’re still learning and improving,” Morris said. “That’s what I’m focusing on the rest of the season. I’m analyzing film and making adjustments to the personnel that we have right now,” The spurt to close the first half staked the visitors to an 18-11 lead at the half.
