CASEY GEORG Special to the Press
THRALL – The Thrall Tigerettes (7-10 overall, 1-0 District 27-2A) have benefitted from their swarming defense all season. Friday night’s 58-25 rout of the Thorndale Lady Dogs, was no exception. The Tigerettes forced 45 turnovers, which they converted into 37 points.
“The game went well,” said Thrall Head Coach Katina Walker. “We were able to see our hard work show in the outcome of the game. The last few weeks, we have played a tough schedule in order to prepare us for the district.”
Thrall got off to a fast start, taking an 8-0 lead over the first three minutes of the first quarter. Thorndale finally got on the board with 2:54 to play in the period, but the Tigerettes maintained control and led 14-7 at the end of the quarter. Jarosek scored eight in the first quarter to pace the Tigerettes. She finished the first quarter with a buzzer-beater just across the midcourt line.
The Tigerettes’ press took control in the second quarter, forcing 13 Lady Dog turnovers. Thrall turned those turnovers into 11 points. Thrall used a balanced scoring attack and began pulling away. Six Tigerettes scored in the second quarter, led by Jarosek’s six points. Avery Ochoa added five, while Cynthia Flournoy-Walker and Kinley Hoffman each added a three-point jumper in the quarter. Thrall led 35-13 at the half.
Thrall struggled from the field in the third quarter, hitting just five of 19 shots from the field in the quarter. Jarosek and Nevaeh Irvin, who finished the night with 12 points, each scored four for Thrall, and the Tigerettes pushed their lead to 45-20 entering the final quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, Flournoy-Walker scored six of her 12 points as the Tigerettes outscored Thorndale 13-5 in the period to seal the win.
“Our turnovers were way down, running the court was effective, and our defense was relentless,” Coach Walker said. “We still have some things to work on, but we’re on the right track. Ashlyn was on a mission, And, Sarah Laurence led the team with five assists, and her attacking the lane caused our shooters to be open.”
Briana Jarosek pulled down seven rebounds, to pace the Tigerettes, and Irvin added six.
The Tigerettes traveled to Granger on Tuesday to continue district play. Thrall will then take a break for the Christmas holidays and will return to the court Dec. 27 when they play in the TexasBank Holiday Classic Tournament in Brownwood. Thrall will play the DeLeon Lady Cats and Bangs Lady Dragons in pool play.
