Lady Yoe, seniors go out with win

It’s no secret that the Lady Yoe’s season has not gone as everyone would have liked. The ladies have been out of playoff contention for some time, but there was still one big game left on the schedule with Rockdale at Yoe Gym on Tuesday. It was not only an important game because it was against Cameron’s archrival, but it was the last time for the seniors to suit up at home.

Those seniors were not going to be denied on this night, recovering from a 1-17 shooting performance in the first and pulling away in the fourth for a 48-40 win.

“It feels good,” said senior guard Marquazia Workman after the win. “We really wanted this game with it being our last one. We always fought hard against Rockdale but to get a win feels good.”

Cameron simply could not anything to fall in the poor-shooting first, but the defense kept the game within reach with just a 6-2 deficit.

Things heated up in the second, and they did so quickly as Cameron started 2-2 from the floor. NaQuriria Gibbons and Marly Spink hit the back-to-back buckets to give Cameron a 7-6 lead.

Rockdale’s Kaylee Criswell did what she could to carry her team throughout most of the game. The 6’1” junior finished with 20 of Rockdale’s points and gave her team a 10-7 lead late in the second after bringing down an offensive rebound.

However, Cameron’s Megan Buck managed to get the ball in her hands and calmly sank a 3-point shot as the buzzer sounded to put Cameron up at the break, 17-16.

In the locker room, Lady Yoe coach Corey Cunningham stressed to his team and his seniors to finish this one off.

“That is what we talked about at halftime,” said Cunningham. “The game was really slow, and if we could pick it up we had an advantage. We did and we were more aggressive. I told the seniors this is the last game of your career, so let’s go out and take this.”

That message was heard loud and clear. Gibbons and Terryn Adams, both seniors, connected on three-point shots to open the third, giving Cameron a 23-16 lead, their biggest at any point of the game.

Rockdale would not go away quietly, coming all the way back to take a two-point lead early in the fourth after another offensive rebound and put back by Criswell.

Gibbons answered back with a bucket inside followed by a 3 in the corner to put Cameron up 32-31 midway through the quarter. It was all Yoe from that point, closing the game on a 16-9 run.

Gibbons finished with a team high 20 points, including 10 in the fourth. “I didn’t think about it too much,” said the point guard on her thoughts heading into the game. “I just knew this was my last game and I was putting it all on the line.”

Adams was the third senior with a solid night, coming in 6 points. Adams, Gibbons and Workman have been playing on the varsity since they were freshmen.

“With it being our last year and it being Rockdale, it means a lot to come out with win,” said Adams. “We have been playing together since 7th grade and it feels good to go out with a win.”

Stat Leaders

Points: Gibbons (20), Workman (10), Adams (6), Lauryn Leftwich (5), Buck (4), Spink (2)

Rebounds: Workman (8), Spink (7), Leftwich (6), Adams (3)

Friday’s 20-3A Results

Rogers 52, Cameron Yoe 41, Jarrell 56, Hearne 42, Rockdale 54, Lexington 46; Academy 72, Franklin 59

Tuesday’s 20-3A Results

Cameron Yoe 48, Rockdale 40; Franklin 70, Franklin 52; Academy 68, Lexington 35; Rogers 53, Hearne 49.

Final 20-3A Standings

1.Academy (14-0), 2. Franklin (11-3), 3. Jarrell (9-5), 4. Rogers (7-7), 5. Rockdale (6-8), 6. Cameron Yoe (3-11), 6. Hearne (3-11), 6. Lexington (3-11).