Girls basketball: Lady Vikings beat West Hall, snap losing streak

OAKWOOD -- It had been nearly three weeks since the East Hall girls had won a game.

Coach Joey Rider was able to let out a big sigh of relief after a much-needed 52-40 Region 7-AAA victory Saturday night over West Hall at the West Hall gym.

"It feels good," Rider said. "But really we don't talk about wins. We just take things one possession at a time and try to get better every game. I feel we've done that the last two nights."

The Lady Vikings (5-7, 1-4 Region 7-AAA) were in danger of falling out of any chance to finish in the top half of the region standings after losing to Dawson County Friday night, but they snapped a four-game losing streak with the win.

A decisive second quarter was the difference. Both teams exchanged baskets most of the first quarter finishing the period in a 10-10 tie. West Hall would take a 12-10 to open the second quarter but it was all Lady Vikings after that.

East Hall finished the quarter with an 11-0 run for a 21-12 halftime lead. West Hall got as close as 31-25 late in the third quarter but East Hall answered with a 14-4 run in a two minute span, highlighted by a pair of Natalie Winters 3-pointers, for a 45-29 lead to put the game out of reach.

"I really thought the difference tonight was our defense," Rider said. "We did a much better job of getting turnovers and then getting some baskets on the other end. But it always seems better when you win."

Winters finished with 14 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead East Hall. Ashlyn Ellison added 10 points for the Lady Vikings.

Both teams came out sloppy in the first half with nearly as many turnovers as points. West Hall opened the game with a 3-0 run but East Hall tied the game at 3 and at 6 on two 3-pointers by Winters.

After West Hall took a 12-10 lead on a by Kaelyn Gattis, the Lady Vikings forced nine West Hall turnovers and holding the Lady Spartans scoreless over the final 6:54.

The Lady Vikings took the lead on a free throw by Tasia Bailey and then Ashlyn Ellison and Chelsea Dale would drain 3-pointers in the final 52 seconds to push their lead 21-12 by halftime.

The two teams combined for 24 turnovers in the first half, 15 by West Hall. The Lady Spartans finished with 25 turnovers for the game.

For West Hall (6-7, 1-3) it was the fifth loss in seven games after a solid start to the year. Maia Booker paced the Lady Spartans with 11 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Kaelyn Gattis had nine points and Jensen Hall and Mia McKensey had eight each for West Hall.