Basketball Roundup – January 28, 2019

By Terry Futrell

Lady Jackets Lose Heartbreaker to Oliver Springs 44-40

The Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats squeaked by the Coalfield Lady Jackets 44-40 in a matchup that will definitely not win any style points. It was a game with 51 fouls called on the two teams – 26 fouls on Coalfield and 25 fouls on Oliver Springs. Fifty-six free throws were attempted in the game. More free throws were successful than baskets from the field – 33 free throws compared to 23 baskets.

Both teams were slow-starting, with Oliver Springs taking a 4-3 lead after the first quarter. The Lady Jackets took tied the score 18-18 at the half. Oliver Springs took a 4-point advantage in the third quarter, and the Lady Bobcats lead held to the end of the game. Both teams had their best offense in the fourth quarter, each scoring 16 points.

Brooklyn Seiber and Megan Tinker led the Lady Jackets with nine points each. Coalfield had balanced scoring with seven Lady Jackets putting points on the board. Oliver Springs was led by Laci Hester with 13 points and Mable Johnson with 11 points.

Coalfield is now 3-10 in District 3-1A and drops below Harriman for eighth place. Oliver Springs now has an 8-6 district record and remains in fifth place.

Oliver Springs Comes from Behind to Defeat Coalfield 72-67

The Coalfield Yellow Jackets got off to a great start, but could not sustain the effort and Oliver Springs came from behind in the fourth quarter to win 72-67. The Jackets took a 16-14 lead in the first quarter and built their lead to 44-33 at the half. Coalfield put 28 points on the board in the second quarter. Rather than serve as a breather, halftime took its toll on the Jackets and they could not regain their momentum. The Bobcats took a 15-4 scoring advantage in the third quarter to tie the game at 48-48. Oliver Springs pulled ahead in the fourth, outscoring the Jackets 24-19.

Coalfield successfully shot four more baskets than Oliver Springs in the game, but fouls were a major factor. Coalfield was called for 24 personal fouls, compared to only nine fouls on the Bobcats. Coalfield attempted only four free throws and made three of those. Oliver Springs had 28 shots from the charity stripe, completing 16 of those.

Coalfield was led by Ashton Jones and Nathan Harvey, who each scored 18 points. Kyle Seiber added 12 points for the Jackets. The Bobcats Riley Walker led all scorers with 21 points. Blake Nation added 20 points and Bryson Williford contributed 17 points for Oliver Springs.

Coalfield drops to 1-12 in District 3-1A and last place. The Bobcats are now 2-12 in the district and leap-frogged Coalfield to take eighth place.