Down yet another guard, Batesville’s Lady Bulldogs still made a go of it at Switzerland County Tuesday. But as heard on WRBI, it was the Lady Pacers who managed to come away with a 36-33 victory.
Batesville has played without starting guard Makayla Granger-Young all season due to a knee injury. The Bulldogs are also now without starting guard Carly Pride for at least a month due to a broken wrist suffered Saturday at East Central.
But BHS stunned a 10-win Pacer team (coached now by the program’s all-time leading scorer Brooke Todd) in the first quarter by pitching a nine-nothing shutout. Alyson Peters had seven of those points for the Canines.
Down 11-2 early in the second, however, Switz caught fire and took a 15-13 lead. The advantage was short lived though as BHS booked the final four points of the half to go back up 17-15 at the break.
Peters led all scorers with nine. Jesse Duvall’s five were tops for the Pacers.
Both teams posted five points in the third with Annie Negovetich hitting a triple for Batesville and Jesse Duvall sinking three freebies for Switzerland County.
Then in the fourth down 24-22, the Swiss went on a 10-0 run to go up 32-24. The Dogs twice drew within three which was also the spread at the final buzzer.
The now 11-2 Pacers outscored the Bulldogs 14-5 at the free throw line. While Batesville held a plus-14 advantage in rebounds, the Dogs lost the turnover battle by nine.
Jesse Duvall’s 16 points were a game-high. Teammates Courtney Higgins and Maddie Duvall scored eight and seven respectively.
Batesville got 11 points from Alyson Peters, six from Emma Weiler and five each via Calley Kaiser and Annie Negovetich.
Switz also won the JV game 29-21.
Maddie Levell and Kenzie Taylor both posted eight points for the hosts.
Claire Saner also had eight for the Bulldog reserves. Teammate Ava Hanson scored seven.
We thank Switzerland County AD Brian Graham for the accommodations and hospitality. And we thank coaches Brooke Todd and Bryan Helvie for their time and information.