Lady Chiefs snap skid

Lakeside sophomore guard Merritt Waddell scored a game-high 16 points to help lead the Lady Chiefs to a 43-29 win against region-rival Springwood Tuesday night in Eufaula.

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Published: December 05, 2008

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Lakeside sophomore Merritt Waddell scored a game-high 16 points, including 12 in the third period, to help lead the Lady Chiefs to a 43-29 win against region-rival Springwood Tuesday night in Eufaula.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid and gave the fifth-ranked Lady Chiefs their first win of the season.

“This will help put all that bad behind us,” Lakeside head coach Ricky Ward said. “It’s good to get a win and even better to get a region win. We needed this.”

Lakeside (1-2, 1-0 Class AA, Region 1) seized control of the game in the second period.

After Lakeside sophomore Logan Adams hit a short jump shot with 12 seconds remaining in the first period to give the Lady Chiefs a slim 9-8 lead, Lakeside held the Lady Wildcats scoreless in the second period, while scoring 11 points of their own to build a 20-9 lead by the halftime break.

By the close of the third period, Lakeside had extended its lead to 39-16.

“I was tickled to death with our defense,” Ward said. “I definitely think that was the turning point of the game. We were wide open. When we’re on like that we can blow a game open in a minute.”

In Tuesday’s win, the Lady Chiefs utilized a box-and-one defense. Lakeside senior Morgan Musick was given the task of defending Springwood sharpshooter Jordan Edge. Musick held Edge to just three points in the first half and seven for the game.

“(Edge) normally gets about 20 points a game,” Ward said. “It’s nothing for her to get on a roll and hit five or six shots in a row, but Morgan did a great job of holding her down tonight.”

Musick also chipped in 11 points on the offensive end of the court, while Adams added 10. Catherine Spivey scored four points and Brynna Chapman scored two points in the win.

“We played much better offensively,” Ward said. “Anytime you can get three players in double figures that’s a good sign. We still have a lot of work to do, but I was pleased with the way we played tonight. The effort was much better and we executed a lot better.”

Lakeside will be back in action Saturday when it plays host to region-rival Evangel Christian. The game is slated for a 10 a.m. start.