Lady Rabbits fall to Newcastle

GRAFORD – You shoot 20 percent and you’re still competitive in a game.

The host Lady Rabbits were just that Friday night, getting within four with two minutes to go Friday night vs. Newcastle but it was all Lady ‘Cats late as the visitors posted a 33-23 win.

Neither team scored for more than the first half of the stanza before Kristen Glover put Graford on the board with a banker. It would prove to be the only Lady Rabbit points of the frame.

Newcastle got on the board with a free throw seconds later and then added buckets to go up 5-2 after one. Graford would end a 7-0 scoreless string with a Kaylee Bezio jumper early in the second. Brooke Crawford added another bucket to get within 7-6.

Glover would tie the game at eight before the visitors took a threepoint lead, 13-10 at the half. Newcastle used a bucket from Grace Obari to ignite what would be a big final two quarters.

Newcastle kept its lead before Mia Guerra extended its lead to seven on a Mia Guerra layin with 1:45 left in the third. Newcastle was able to do next to nothing even with a full court press which helped with several offensive rebounds but little else.

Crawford’s bucket would be the only points for the Lady Rabbits in the frame, who were down 19-12 after three.

Hannah Lindsey’s pair of fourth quarter buckets brought Graford within four with just under two minutes left but it would prove to be enough as buckets bu Guerra and Obari would enable Obari to pull away.

Glover had 11 points to lead Graford with Riley Hardin tossing in nine to pace Newcastle.