(Greensburg)—The North Decatur Lady Chargers (1-1) secured a thrilling 52-47 victory in their home opener Saturday night, defeating the Batesville Bulldogs (2-2) in a hard-fought battle.
The game remained tight throughout, with Batesville briefly taking the lead on two occasions, but the Chargers consistently found ways to respond.
Kelsey Haley delivered a clutch three-pointer just before halftime, giving North Decatur a slim 25-23 advantage heading into the break. Later, with the Chargers trailing by one, Clare Kinker converted a critical layup-and-one to put her team ahead for good.
Haley finished the game with 14 points, while Kinker added 10 to the tally.
Madi Allen led the offensive charge with a dominant performance, scoring 12 points in the opening quarter and adding another 12 over the final three frames for a game-high 24 points. During the contest, Allen surpassed the 1,000-point milestone, becoming the fifth player in Lady Chargers history to achieve the feat.
Ally Whitaker’s timely free throws were pivotal in the third quarter, where she went 3-for-4 from the line, helping to shift momentum in North Decatur’s favor.
Carmen Thackery added one point but played a critical role on the defensive end, making it difficult for Batesville to find an offensive rhythm.
The victory evens the Lady Chargers’ record at 1-1 ahead of their annual civil war clash with South Decatur next Saturday.
Box Score
School Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
North Decatur 17 8 15 12 52
Batesville 12 11 13 11 47