Lady Bluejays fall to Kennett, 40-39

CHARLESTON -- The 2004-2005 Kennett Lady Indians are a very young inexperienced team, however, Coach Christel Jefferson's squad showed that dedication and teamwork can bring home a victory.

The Lady Indians trailed the over-sized Charleston Lady Bluejays for most of the contest Monday night at the "Round House," nevertheless, Kennett dominated the second half, defeating CHS 40-39 to move to 4-2 on the season.

Tori Ratliff led the Lady Indians with 16 points, mostly as a result of her patented outside jump-shot.

Teammate Monica Duckworth ended the game with 16, including 10 in the crucial final quarter of the game.

Kennett came from behind early in the contest as a result of Charleston's 6'1" post player Shytoria Davis who netted a game-high 27 points.

Davis's inside dominance was placed on hold during the final quarter with Kareema Jefferson coming off of the bench for the Lady Indians to limit the standout from getting any second chances on offense.

Kennett fell behind 20-12 at the intermission by as many as 12 in the third quarter, but started attacking the interior to trim the Charleston advantage to 30-26 going into the final period.

The Lady Indians took the lead when Duckworth battled for position and stuck back an Alayna Palmer 15-foot miss with just under three minutes left to play.

Erica Watkins, perhaps the Lady Indians best defensive player, stepped up and make several good decisions late in the game to hold off the Lady Bluejays.

The defensive pressure of the Lady Indians forced a pivotal back-court violation on Charleston with under a minute left to play. Ratliff mistakenly threw the ball away with 12 seconds to play and the Lady Bluejays new life down only two.

Davis was eventually fouled on an out of bounds lob play, however, missed the second foul shot that kept the Lady Indians up a point.

Watkins was pushed out of bounds on the next play, although no foul was whistled, leaving Davis and the Lady Jays the last play of the game.

Davis' s final shot rolled around the rim and finally fell off at the buzzer sounded.

Kennett trailed 12-8 after the opening stanza.

Freshman Jessie Greenway played in her first varsity contest and netted eight in the process, including a pair of three-pointers in the second quarter that kept the Lady Indians within sticking distance.

On the downside of things, Coach Jefferson announced after the game that the Lady Indians standout junior point guard Suzanne Carter voluntarily resigned as a member of the Kennett ballteam.

Other members of the Lady Indians will have to step up to fill the void. Greenway and Jae Ratliff will have to handle the ball some for the Lady Indians.

Kennett will host heated-rival Senath-Hornersville Thursday at 4.

Notes: This was the first contest of the season in which leader Ratliff scored in double-figures, still as the year moves on, her totals should be on the rise.

The Lady Indians rebounded has improved tremendously and that is what it is going to take against other teams as the quality of competition is on the rise in the Bootheel Conference.