Lady Yoe fall to Jarrell; slip by Hearne

After dropping the district opener to Academy, the Lady Yoe were looking to pick up their first district win of the year versus Jarrell or Hearne.  

Jarrell

The Lady Cougars are regarded as one of the top teams in the state.  For two quarters Cameron was able to stay competitive, but Jarrell proved to be too much in the second half and walked out of Yoe Gym with a 62-35 win.  

Jarrell would go on multiple scoring runs in the first 16 minutes, but the Lady Yoe always had an answer to keep the game within single digits. Cameron trailed by just 11 at the half, 31-20.  

"Our girls came out fighting and I felt like they could compete with a team of Jarrell's caliber and they did just that the first half," said Cameron coach Corey Cunningham.  "We never took ourselves out of the game that first half."

Most of Jarrell's success came from senior forwards Julie Tucker and Jorden Vick, who combined for 40 of the 62 points.  

"They are just good players, and it helps that they have size and are physically strong," said Jarrell coach Marlena Brown, who added that rebounding and put backs where a big part to the team's success.  

Marquazia Workman was the leading scorer for Cameron, finishing with 11 points on 4-11 shooting.  Naquiria Gibbons had nine points and Lauryn Leftwich had six.  

Marly Spink and Leftwich each had four offensive rebounds.  

Hearne

Last season, Hearne did not win a game in 20-3A action and went 0-14.  Through two games, the Lady Eagles had already topped that mark with a a dramatic one-point win over Lexington to improve to 1-1.  

For three quarters of Tuesday's game with the Lady Yoe, it appeared that Hearne was on its way to a two-game winning streak.  Those hopes were dashed in the final period as Cameron regained composure and went on a 19-7 run to pick up the first district win of the season. 

"I told our girls to keep fighting," said Cunningham.  "In the fourth quarter, it finally came together for us with our press.  We got some turnovers and got some easy transition baskets."  Cameron forced 15 turnovers on the night with most coming late in the game.  

Cameron trailed 29-22 at the half and 34-28 heading to the fourth before Gibbons went on a tear with 10 points, including a three-pointer.  

"We want the ball in Gibbons' hands," said Cunningham.  "She can create for herself.  She is starting to have more confidence in herself that she can do that for our team."

Overall, Cameron did not shoot well from the field but had many second chance opportunities down the stretch.  Cunningham felt Hearne had too many of those same opportunities in the first half.   

"When you are shooting around 30 percent in a game, we have to get second chance points.  We also have to limit the other team's second chance points.  We gave up too many of those in the first half."  Leftwich led Cameron with four offensive rebounds. Gibbons finished with 22 points, Workman had nine and Leftwich had six.  

Other 20-3A results: Academy 69, Rogers 28; Jarrell 74, Rockdale 51; Franklin 67, Lexington 37. 

20-3A standings: 1. Academy (3-0); 1. Franklin (3-0); 1. Jarrell (3-0); 4. Cameron Yoe (1-2); 4. Hearne (1-2); 4. Rogers (1-2); 7. Lexington (0-3); 7. Rockdale (0-3).