Lady Bulldogs come up short in Lady Eagle contest

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Paige Vann (Decatur 5) attempts a pass over the head of an Omaha player during the Lady Bulldogs-Lady Eagles basketball game at home in Decatur Jan. 30.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Paige Vann (Decatur 5) attempts a pass over the head of an Omaha player during the Lady Bulldogs-Lady Eagles basketball game at home in Decatur Jan. 30.

DECATUR -- Time was simply not on the Decatur Lady Bulldogs' side as a fourth-quarter rally fell short Jan. 30 at home against the Omaha Lady Eagles. Omaha took the conference victory, 57-48.

The Lady Eagles prevailed through the entire first half, hitting six of 10 three-point shots to take a commanding 15-point lead over the struggling Lady Bulldogs going into the start of the second half.

As the third quarter began, Decatur's defense managed to hold Omaha to 10 points. The Lady Bulldog offense was unable to capitalize on this, with the Lady Eagles extending their lead to 18 going into the final eight minutes of the contest. But the game was about to take a turn that completely surprised the Omaha players and coaching staff.

The Lady Bulldog defense began working on Omaha' offense, forcing several turnovers and leaving the Lady Eagles stunned. The combined forces of Desi Meek, Destiny Mejia, Paige Vann, Abby Tilley, Sammie Skaggs, Kaylee Morales and Jackie Herrera swarmed around the Omaha basket, picking off rebound after rebound and driving the ball down court and sinking baskets.

Halfway through the half, Decatur cut the Omaha lead to 12 on a two-point shot by Tilley. Two seconds later, she intercepted an inbound Omaha pass and put it up for another two, cutting the deficit to eight. But the Lady Tigers were not ready to give up their hold on the lead just yet. They were able to drive the deficit back to 15 with less than two minutes left.

The Lady Bulldogs were able to shut down Omaha's offense for the remainder of the contest and to cut the Omaha lead back to nine when the final buzzer sounded, ending the contest with the Omaha Lady Eagles defeating the Decatur Lady Bulldogs, 57-48.

Decatur 9 11 7 21 -- 48

Omaha 15 20 10 9 -- 57

Decatur: Desi Meek 9, Destiny Mejia 9, Paige Vann 9, Abby Tilley 9, Jackie Herrera 7, Sammie Skaggs 5.

Omaha: Macie Arnold 12 (2-3s), Kendall Atchison 11 (3-3s), Taylor Withrow 11 (2-3s), Brianna Barber 4, Cas Yachom 3 (1-3), Alexa DeLong 3, Kendrick Baylee 3, Taylor Tucker 2, Kaiden Carlton 1.

Three-pointers: Omaha 8, Decatur 0.

Sports on 02/07/2018