The youthful Dawson County Lady Tiger varsity basketball team opened the 2010 season with a 57-47 loss to visiting Towns County last Friday night.
The Lady Tigers played a very talented Towns County team that reached the state Sweet Sixteen last season before losing to eventual state A champion Wesleyan, 81-37.
Dawson jumped out to an impressive start, handling the Towns full court pressure by holding a 10-9 lead with 2:37 to go in the first quarter.
Towns closed the first quarter with a lay-up at the buzzer to use a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 first quarter lead.
The Lady Indian defense then turned up the pressure and forced several quick shots and turnovers by Dawson County.
Towns netted 11 straight points before Lady Tiger Jessi Phillips stopped the run with a free throw at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter.
Towns continued to build a huge lead, and outscored the Lady Tigers 21-3 during the remainder of the second quarter to go into halftime with a commanding 33-15 advantage.
Head Coach Steve Sweat’s team didn’t quit.
The Lady Tigers made some timely shots, led by sophomore guard Carley Gilreath, to trim the Towns lead to 50-41 with 3:12 left in the game.
Gilreath led all Lady Tigers in scoring with 12 points.
Dawson cut the lead to 7-points with two free throws by Allie Costley, 50-43.
The Lady Tigers had to begin fouling.
Dawson couldn’t cut into the lead any further and finished the game 10 points behind Towns County.
Natalie Parker provided a big spark off the bench for the Lady Tigers.
Parker’s hustle forced three Towns turnovers that led to Lady Tiger points. She finished the game with eight points and six rebounds.
Lady Tiger Kenna Seitz also played well. Seitz scored 8 points.
Senior Jessi Phillips added 7 points in the loss. Also scoring were Kimberly Wallace and Costley with 4 points each. Morgan Bennett and Morgan Huber each had 2 points for the Lady Tigers.
Dawson is currently 0-1 on the season.
The Lady Tigers played in the Hebron Thanksgiving Tournament Monday and Tuesday. The Lady Tigers played Mt. Pisgah on Monday and either Hebron or Greenforest on Tuesday. Scores were unavailable as of press time.
Dawson will be at home at 5 p.m. Nov. 30, facing off against Galloway.