LEWISBURG — The Tri-County North girls basketball team dropped two games last week, losing to both Dixie and Covington as they continue the search for their first conference win of the season.
The Panthers opened their week against Dixie on Monday, Jan. 25, staying close with the Greyhounds for much of the contest before falling, 50-33.
North did start out slowly though, only posting five games in the first quarter and heading into the second down 16-5. The next period proved more fruitful, as they scored 11 while holding Dixie to 17.
Out of the break, the Panthers scored eight but held Dixie to five points, cutting the deficit to 14.
“We did play much better (after the first quarter) and at one point of the game we were back down by only seven points,” said head coach Jessica Cherry. “We have been really concentrating on our offense and executing it. We have to learn to play it out all four quarters. We usually have one quarter that sets us back.”
In the final frame, North scored nine while Dixie put up 12.
Cassi Stinson led the way for the Panthers with 13 points, six rebounds and three steals. Tiarra Alford added seven points while Riley Cruse and Sara Harris each chipped in four points apiece. Preston Lipinski and Chelsey Strawser posted two points while Shyanna Baker put one point on the board.
North then ran into Covington on Thursday, Jan. 28, losing 75-24 and struggling with the Buccs press defense.
“We played very well against (Covington). However, we struggled with ball handling. Our guards could not get the ball up the court and we struggled with turnovers,” said Cherry. “We must have all 5 girls scoring on the court at all time.”
After the first quarter, North was down 22-8 before only scored two points in the second and heading into the half 38-10.
The Panthers offense was more present in the second half, scoring 14 points but allowing Covington to put up 37 in that timespan.
Stinson led North with 13 points while Baker and Cruse both had five points and Harris posting one.
The Panthers head into their final week of the regular season, traveling to Stivers on Tuesday, Feb. 2 before hosting Miami East on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m. and closing the year against National Trail on Saturday, Feb. 6 starting at 4:30 p.m.
North drew a first round bye for the tournament and will play the winner of two-seed Miami Valley and 10-seed Jefferson on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Brookville. The tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
