By RICKEY CLARDY ~ Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Viqueens preserved their lead and took time off the clock with a key possession late in the game and held on to defeat the Central Magnet Lady Tigers 47-43 in a basketball contest Thursday night.
Community (5-1) had a rough start out of the gate as the Lady Tigers took a 6-0 lead before the Viqueens scored their first points at the 3:57 mark of the opening quarter.
Central Magnet took its biggest lead at 13-4 before the Viqueens cut the Lady Tiger advantage to 16-9 heading to the second quarter.
M.J. Simmons scored seven points as the Viqueens started to find a rhythm in the quarter. Community scored the first seven points to complete at 9-0 run and tied the game at 16-16 with 5:16 remaining.
The Viqueens took their first lead at 21-20 before settling on a 23-23 tie at the half.
“We got off to a slow start, but kept it close and got settled that second quarter," Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said.
"It took us a little bit, but we adjusted to how they were playing."
The Viqueens took a 28-23 lead with a 5-0 run to start the third quarter before the momentum switched to Central Magnet.
The Lady Tigers scored the final seven points and took a 35-32 lead to the final quarter.
The game was tied before Breanna Whitaker's trey gave the Viqueens the lead for good at 39-36 with 3:57 remaining.
With Community clinging to a 41-40 lead and 1:42 left, the Viqueens proceeded to go on a possession that extended their lead to five and took all but 17 seconds off the clock.
The Viqueens used two timeouts to get out of trouble and held on to the ball until three Lady Tiger fouls put Community in the bonus.
Addison Brothers made the first of a one-and-one with 31 seconds left to put the Viqueens up 42-40 and rebounded her miss on the second shot as Community maintained possession.
Zoey Dixon made both foul shots on an intentional foul with 19 seconds remaining to put Community up 44-40.
Brothers added one free throw two seconds later as the Viqueens ended their long possession with four points and a 45-40 lead.
After the Lady Tigers cut the Viqueen lead to 45-43, Dixon iced the game with two free throws in the waning seconds.
"That last minute and a half was huge for us," Pierce said. "We took care of the basketball even though we were throwing it away before that."
Simmons scored 13 points and Haley Mitchell added 11 to lead the Viqueens.
Olivia Hart led the Lady Tigers with 17 points while Addison Melton had 16.
The Viqueens were 11-of-13 at the free throw line while Central Magnet was 7-of-10.
Community played at Eagleville Friday and travels to Huntland for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday night.
Central Magnet 16 7 12 8 — 43
Community 9 14 9 15 — 47
Central Magnet: Olivia Hart 17, Addison Melton 16, Reilly McMillian 4, Kaitlin Polly 3, Bethany Jackson, Reese Carlisle 3, Reagan Brand, Geny Bineza.
Community: M. J. Simmons 13, Haley Mitchell 11, Zoey Dixon 8, Addison Brothers 7, Breanna Whitaker 6, Jacey Collier 2.
3-Point goals: Central Magnet (4): Melton 2, Hart, Carlisle; Community (4): Whitaker 2, Mitchell, Brothers.
Halftime score: Community 23, Central Magnet 23.
