The Eminence girls basketball team secured a 35-31 win over rival Henry County at home on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
The Warriors took down their crosstown foe for the first time since Feb. 9, 2021, when Eminence came away with a 69-48 victory.
“It feels good, but mostly for the girls. It’s one of those wins where they work hard, and they see what hard work does,” said Eminence head coach Joshua Keene. “Henry is a great team and coach New did a great job. They missed some shots that they normally make but we’ll take it. They’re a really good team and we’re just happy to compete with them. We’re happy to get the win and I’m proud of the girls.”
Henry County started strong offensively and led 5-0, but much of the game was a defensive battle between two quick and aggressive teams.
After the Lady Cats’ early advantage, Eminence went on a 10-0 run to go ahead. Brooklyn Smith had five of the 10 points, including a 3-point play on a long floater, and Victoria Spiegl capped off the surge with a three.
Morgan McElfresh countered with two shots down low to cut the lead to one and Madeline Lay put Henry County back on top with about a minute to play with a three.
Yet, Eminence had one final answer in the period. Smith hit nothing but net on a half-court shot at the buzzer to move the Warriors back in front 13-12.
Henry County once again took control early in the second quarter on a pair of free throws from Micah MaGruder.
The Lady Cats had opportunities to extend the lead on the offensive end but struggled to connect on those chances.
“They were the aggressor and that’s how it goes in a rivalry. Whoever comes out and punches first, they’re probably going to have control until you wear one and then throw one back. Give them all the credit, they’re young and they were the aggressors and we just didn’t handle it,” said Henry County head coach Landon New. “We didn’t hit layups, didn’t hit anything. That’s part of it. (We’ve) got to hit shots to win.”
McElfresh found an opening with about 3:30 left in the half for a layup to push the lead out to 16-13.
The Warriors overcame a brief exit from Spiegl, who sustained a cut on her head on a layup attempt, and battled back to tie the game on a steal and a layup from Smith.
With both defenses playing aggressively, foul trouble mounted on both sides.
Eminence went to its bench and found success as Loran Yetter hit a jumper to cut the lead down to one with 20 seconds left.
“The young ladies that came off the bench really gave us some good minutes,” said Keene.
Both teams had a chance at the foul line in the final 15 seconds but were unable to convert to keep Henry County’s lead at 19-18 at halftime.
Defense continued to be a point of emphasis on both sides in the second half. Each team had quality looks at the basket but were unable to knock down many of the shot attempts.
The Lady Cats found a bit of momentum midway through the third quarter, though, to go ahead by five.
Lay connected on a jumper and McElfresh made a shot on the right block off an assist from MaGruder to push the margin to 25-20.
Yetter cut the lead to four, 25-21, late in the period before Emily Roederer opened the fourth quarter with a huge corner three to trim the lead to one.
Addison Roederer put Eminence ahead 26-25 with a pair of free throws with 5:40 remaining before knocking down a crucial 3-pointer a minute later to move the margin to four.
Henry County countered with a layup to pull within two, but Eminence kept the momentum and Smith hit a runner to move the lead back out to four.
Lay made one of two from the line to bring Henry County within three.
However, a technical on the Lady Cat bench allowed Eminence to go back in front by five with 1:37 remaining.
Henry County stayed the course and got within two on a layup and a foul shot.
Yet, Spiegl responded with a pair of free throws with 27 seconds left and the Warriors held off the Lady Cats’ final comeback attempts for the win.
Smith had a team-high 12 points for the Warriors and Addison Roederer added seven points.
“We put together those four quarters that we had to have offensively and defensively, so I’m super proud of them,” said Keene.
Lay paced Henry County with 13 points and McElfresh ended with eight points.
With the win, Eminence moves to 6-12 overall and 2-5 in district play while Henry County falls to 9-11 and 3-4 in district play.