Lady Cardinals claim District 12-1A lead with win

IRA — Hermleigh proved that its perimeter game can carry the load, instead of relying on the inside game.
Ira (19-6, 3-1) shut down the inside game, but the Lady Cardinals countered by making 10 3-pointers in a 53-51 win Saturday at Big Country Gym. Hermleigh (22-0, 4-0) took sole possession of first place in District 12-1A with the win.
The Lady Bulldogs held Hermleigh’s post players to seven points. Aaliyah Sneed, the Lady Cardinals’ leading scorer, had two points. Kelsey Digby was limited to three points and Amanda Long had two points.
Brishaya Sneed, Morgan Digby and Lillyan Digby each made three 3-pointers while Sandra Carr had one 3-pointer.
Ira, which averages six 3-pointers per game, had two 3-pointers — Karina Cowan and Madison Peterson.
Brishaya Sneed led the Lady Cardinals with 15 points. Morgan Digby had 11 points and Lillyan Digby added nine points.
“We made shots and they did a great job of taking away our inside game,” Hermleigh head coach Grant Gooch said. “Our guards kept us in the lead. We talked all year if a team takes away one option, we have other options and showed it in this game.”
Peterson scored 22 points for Ira. Alyssa Goodwin had 10 points while Sierra Welch added eight points.
“We wanted to put defensive pressure on them and make it a fast-pace game,” Ira head coach Eric Simonds said. “Hermleigh made outside shots. It’s hard to win when you give up 10 3-pointers, but we lost by two points. I was hoping we would get on a scoring run, but it never happened. We played catchup most of the game and didn’t make many outside shots.”
The lead changed four times during the first quarter and Ira was able to take a 13-12 lead into the second quarter. Hermleigh responded in the second quarter and built a 31-27 halftime leaf.
Ira regained the lead at 44-41 late in the third quarter. Lillyan Digby made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 44-44 going into the fourth quarter.
The game was tied three times during the fourth quarter. Aaliyah Sneed scored her only basket of the game with 15 seconds left to break a 51-51 tie. Peterson missed two free throws with three seconds left.
Simonds said it was a tough loss, but his team will regroup and hope to have an opportunity at a district championship when the two teams meet in Hermleigh on Feb. 7.
“We had chances at the end of the game,” Simonds said. “We got a good shot. It just wouldn’t fall.”
“This was a tough game and a tough gym to play in,” Gooch said. “We had to play smart and tough, and the game came down to  two plays at the end. We made the plays when we needed to. The girls came out and won the game.”
Gooch said the win was big, but the approach will remain the same in coming games.
“This is a significant game because of the rivalry and it could determine the district championship,” Gooch said. “We talk about every game being important. We will continue to take the same approach.”
Simonds said Ira will aim to win out before the rematch in Hermleigh.
“We hope to take care of business,” Simonds said. “We want to have a chance at the district championship when we play each other again.”
Hermleigh 13 17 13 9—53
Ira 12 15 17 7—51
Hermleigh scorers — Brishaya Sneed 15, Morgan Digby 11, Lillyan Digby 9, Kiki Gonzales 8, Kelsey Digby 3, Sandra Carr 3, Aaliyah Sneed 2, Amanda Long 2.
Ira scorers — Madison Peterson 22, Alyssa Goodwin 10, Sierra Welch 8, Karina Cowan 5, Alyssa Chavez 2, Abby Manning 2, Lexie Hanshew 2.