By RICKEY CLARDY - Sports Writer
LYNNVILLE – The Community Viqueen defense played lights out and only allowed the Richland Lady Raiders five second half points as the Viqueens took the lead in the third quarter and pulled away for a 54-34 victory in a basketball contest Tuesday night.
Community (7-3) used four points from M. J. Simmons in the opening quarter as the teams battled to gain the advantage. The Lady Raiders ended the quarter with a 10-9 lead.
Both teams revved up their offenses in the second quarter. Simmons scored nine points and Shelby Cawthon added four as the Viqueens scored 17 points, but Richland netted 19 points and took a 29-26 lead into the intermission.
The Lady Raiders still led 32-30 with under four minutes to play in the third quarter when Community turned the game around.
Led by five points from Zoey Dixon and four from Breanna Whitaker, Community scored the last 10 points of the quarter while holding the Lady Raiders to three third quarter points. The Viqueens took a 40-32 lead to the final quarter.
After the Lady Raiders scored their lone field goal in the quarter to cut the Viqueen lead to 41-34, Community proceeded to scored the final 13 points of the game. Simmons scored 11 fourth quarter points as the Viqueens coasted to the win.
Simmons scored 26 points to lead the Viqueens.
Shelby Higgins led Richland with 10 points.
The Viqueens were 11-of-23 at the free throw line while the Lady Raiders were 4-of-10.
Community entertains Shelbyville Friday night in an intra-county matchup. Game time is 6 p.m.
Community 9 17 14 14 - 54
Richland 10 19 3 2 - 34
Community: M. J. Simmons 26, Zoey Dixon 9, Addison Brothers 6, Breanna Whitaker 4, Haley Mitchell 1, Shelby Cawthon 8, Jacey Collier, Addison Cothran.
Richland: Shelby Higgins 10, Katie Garner 9, Kristen Garner 7, Katelyn Bass 5, Gracie Braden 3, Danica Bridgers, Kylee Hall, Gracie Adams, AC Hewitt, Bailey Blair, MK Butler, Sissy Randolph.
3-Point goals: Community (5): Dixon 2, Brothers 2, Simmons; Richland (4): Higgins 2, Garner, Bass.
Halftime score: Richland 29, Community 26.
