The Holly Pond Lady Broncos faced off against the Lawrence County Lady Red Devils on March 14, 2024, in a closely contested basketball match that ended with Lawrence County triumphing 39-31. The game showcased strong defensive play from both teams, but a pivotal third quarter propelled Lawrence County to victory.
The first quarter set the tone for a defensive battle. Holly Pond’s Sadie Nail opened the scoring with two free throws, quickly followed by Milly Huddleston who split a pair at the line, giving Holly Pond a brief 3-2 lead. Nail then scored from close range to extend the lead to 5-2. However, Lawrence County responded with a 6-0 run, taking an 8-5 advantage as the quarter closed. A long three-pointer from Maggie Nail tied the game 8-8 as the first period ended.
In the second quarter, Maggie Nail continued her strong performance, sinking another three-pointer to put Holly Pond ahead 11-8. With just over two minutes remaining, Sadie Nail added two more free throws, pushing the Lady Broncos to a 13-10 lead. Nevertheless, the Lady Red Devils rallied, scoring the last five points of the half to head into the break with a narrow 15-13 lead.
As the third quarter commenced, Ava Thomas kept Holly Pond close by converting two free throws, narrowing the gap to 17-15. However, Lawrence County unleashed a significant 10-0 run, extending their lead to 27-15. Huddleston managed to halt their momentum with a jumper, but Lawrence County closed the quarter strong, leading 29-17.
In the final quarter, Holly Pond fought to close the gap. Maggie Nail hit a long jumper, bringing the score to 31-20 with just under five minutes remaining. Baskets from Thomas and Sadie Nail cut the deficit to 33-24, but Lawrence County maintained control. The game concluded with Lawrence County securing the 39-31 victory.
Sadie Nail and Ava Thomas were standout performers for Holly Pond, each scoring nine points. Maggie Nail contributed eight points, while Huddleston added five. The Lady Broncos will look to regroup in their upcoming matches, hoping to turn their competitive spirit into victories.
