Christmas came early this year for Aledo’s Ladycats. On Tuesday, Dec. 19, while hosting Saginaw in the third District 5-5A contest of the hoops season, the Ladycats had everything clicking as they decimated the Lady Rough Riders 85-20.
“This was a great team basketball game,” said Ladycat head coach Nikki Hyles after the game. “Offense, defense, we played as a team. We were always looking for the open person, always being unselfish. It was just great basketball.”
Saginaw came into the game with a 1-0 record in District 5-5A after defeating Northwest back on Dec. 12. On Friday, the Ladycats traveled to Justin where they mauled the Lady Texans 68-16. With both squads finding success early in their respective district schedules, Tuesday’s game meant a lot to both teams heading into the Christmas break.
Aledo (14-7 overall, 3-0 in district) got the game started like they’d filled up on candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. On their first possession, Natalie Anderson knocked down a three-pointer right in front of the Saginaw bench to get the home team on the board. Elizabeth Griffin and Brooklyn Dempsey sank a pair of free throws apiece to get the Ladycats out in front by seven points in short order.
Saginaw got on the board with a layup down at their end of the floor with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. But that one basket was like throwing gasoline on a fire.
The Ladycats scored 29 unanswered points over the five minutes of play. Griffin scored 13 of Aledo’s points during that time, including a stretch where she buried a trio of three-pointers in a row. By the time the first quarter came to its conclusion, Aledo held an insurmountable 37-5 lead over the Lady Rough Riders.
Holding such a commanding lead gave Hyles an opportunity to get everyone on the team an ample amount of quality minutes.
“We had a really good week of practice,” Hyles said of the preparation her bench players had leading into the matchup. “They’ve started finding each other. They’ve started finding a groove. They’re starting to execute what we’ve been asking them to do. They’ve just done a great job.”
In total, 10 different players put points on the board for the Ladycats. As a team they shot 56-percent from the field as they dominated the Lady Rough Riders at both ends of the floor and everywhere in between.
“It’s great to see everybody do exactly what they’re supposed to be doing,” Hyles said of the Ladycats’ performance. “Rebounding, shooting the ball that well, finding the open person – the communication at both ends was great. I couldn’t be happier going into the break on that note.”
The Ladycats will get back to work for a day of practice before hitting the road on Thursday, Dec. 28, when they participate in the Wimberley Tournament. They’ll play six games between Thursday and Saturday before returning to district play on Jan. 5, when Brewer comes to town.
Ladycats vs. Springtown – Dec. 19
Aledo 37 16 12 20 - 85
Saginaw 5 6 2 7 - 20
Aledo scoring: Elizabeth Griffin 16, Natalie Anderson 16, Brooklyn Dempsey 10, Caroline Browning 9, Kinley Elms 8, Kate Jackson 6, Brenna Clock 6, Ella Isbell 5, Rebekah Jarrell 5, August Carlone 4.
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