Lady Mustangs claim 2A-3 Conference championship

Town Crier Sports Staff

Buffalo Island Central outscored Earle 20-4 in the second period to blow open a

six point game as the Lady Mustangs went on to claim the 2A-3 Conference

championship with a 57-26 thrashing of the Lady Bulldogs Friday night at the

Mustang Athletic Complex.

The Lady Mustangs led just 16-10 after the first quarter when Earle's Salena

Sanders hit a three pointer for the Lady Bulldogs. BIC started the second period

with a 12-0 run, using a stifling full court press that produced four straight

lay-ups. Offensive stick-backs by seniors Chelsie Nix and Lauryn Smith completed

the BIC stampede before Earle finally got on the board when Jalena Dawson scored

with an inside bucket at the 4:02 mark. Earle would score only once more the

rest of the half as BIC closed the second stanza outscoring Earle 8-0 to take a

36-14 lead into the dressing room at intermission.

Senior guard Jessica Shepard, who earlier in the week signed a letter of intent

to play college basketball for Williams Baptist College, contributed 14 of BIC's

36 first half points.

BIC continued their onslaught in the third period, invoking the mercy rule when

sophomore Ashley Jines hit from eight feet out with 4:27 left in the quarter,

giving BIC a 46-16 lead. Shepard followed with a three point play, a steal and a

lay-up to increase BIC's advantage to 51-16 with 3:07 remaining in the quarter.

Mustang Coach Stan Fowler emptied his bench at the 3:00 mark of the third period

as the Lady Mustangs cruised to their 25th win of the season against seven

defeats. The victory gave BIC a 14-2 record in conference play.

Shepard finished the night with a game high 25 points to lead 11 Lady Mustangs

in the scoring column. Point guard Lauryn Smith finished with eight points while

senior Sammi Fowler added six. Chelsie Nix and Holly Dempsey scored four points

apiece, Jordon Miller, Corie Flannigan, Whitlee Roland and Ashley Jines netted

two points apiece while Shelby Qualls and Tiffany McMinn added one point each

for the Lady Mustangs. BIC was 10-15 from the foul line and hit one three

pointer on the night.

Brianna Wiley led Earle with 12 points. The Lady Bulldogs shot a goose egg from

the free throw line going 0-11, but made two treys on the evening.

The Lady Mustangs held on for a 69-67 win at Turrell Tuesday night behind

Jessica Shepard's 36 point performance. Shepard nailed six three pointers on the

night and was joined in double figures by Sammi Fowler and Lauryn Smith who

scored 14 and 10 points respectively. Jordon Miller tallied six points while

Chelsie Nix chipped in three. The Lady Mustangs hit 17-31 from the foul line and

drilled eight treys.

Turrell held a 16-8 lead after the first period and a 35-33 advantage at the

half. BIC rallied in the third period to take a 49-48 lead into the final frame.

In junior high action, BIC outscored Earle 65-54 behind seventh grader Brittany

Fowler's 22 points. BIC (24-3, 14-2 2A-3) clinched a tie for the conference

championship with the victory. Fowler connected on 14 consecutive free throws in

the game. Eighth grader Demi Hargrove poured in 17 points while Jenna Pike

nailed three treys on her way to a 13 point night. Taylor Owens netted seven

points while Amber Rolland, Kalee James and Jacey Sneed added two points apiece.

The Lady Mustangs were 26-35 from the foul line.

Earle led 14-12 after the first period before BIC rallied to take a 33-28 lead

at the half. The Lady Mustangs held a 49-41 advantage entering the final frame.

Jessica Young poured in 20 points to lead Earle, who finished 9-21 from the foul

line, and made one three pointer on the night.

BIC slipped past Turrell Tuesday night 50-44, despite Z. Chance's 30 point

performance for the Lady Rockets. BIC led 8-5 after the first period, 26-14 at

the half and 35-24 after three periods of play.

Brittany Fowler led BIC with 19 points while Demi Hargrove added 10. Taylor

Owens chipped in nine points, Jenna Pike scored six, Jacey Sneed tallied four

while Kalee James added two.

The senior Lady Mustangs will close out the regular season Monday night when

they travel to Weiner to take on the Lady Cardinals.

The junior Lady Mustangs will open District Tournament play Wednesday at Bay.