On Thursday night, Dec. 6, Manual’s girls’ varsity basketball team faced the Mercy Jaguars in basketball, winning 77-60. This game also marked the team’s season opener.
First Half:
After tip off, Mercy got the ball and was able to score the first points of the game. Shortly after, Brooklyn Davis (#24, 11) made a three-point shot. This was followed by a three-point shot from Mercy, and then another three-point shot by Manual. Mercy fouled Takenzie Young (#1, 9), who went to the free-throw line and scored one of her two shots. This brought the score 8-5.
Not long after, a Mercy player fouled Kendall Hemmerle (#12, 12), who had two attempts at the line, but was unable to score. The Lady Crimsons then called a timeout, and when play resumed, the Jaguars scored again. Davis scored again with an assist from Electra Lovely-Tolbert (#4, 12). Bailey Fetcher (#35, 10) was fouled, and made both shots. As play continued, the Lady Crimsons continued to make baskets, and solidified their lead.
The score was 22-11 at the end of the first quarter, in favor of the Lady Crimsons.
The second quarter began with an attempted two-point shot from Mercy, but Alicia Mangrum (#13, 9) was quick to get the rebound and score for Manual at the other end of the court. The teams fought for possession, and Hemmerle managed to score. Davis scored, as well, but fouled a Mercy player shortly after. The score increased to 30-20, with Manual still in the lead.
The Lady Crimsons and the Jaguars raced up and down the court for the remainder of the first half, with both teams scoring several points. A few seconds later, Mercy made several consecutive attempts to score, but were successfully blocked by Mangrum and Davis. This was followed by back-to-back baskets from Lovey-Tolbert and Davis.
At the end of the first half, the Lady Crimsons led the Jaguars 41-29.
Second Half:
In the third quarter, Manual was quick to get on defense, as Mercy attempted to score and was blocked by Mangrum. Mangrum then passed the ball to Young, who scored two points.
As play continued, Himmerle and Davis scored baskets, which was followed by a three-point shot from Mangrum. This brought the score to 48-32.
Unfortunately, several fouls against Manual led the Jaguars to gain a few points. However, Manual still maintained a strong lead, ending the quarter with a score of 61-44, with Manual in the lead.
Both teams scored three-pointers to begin the final quarter of the game. Davis was then fouled by the Jaguars. Later, Himmerle and Mangrum scored consecutive baskets, bringing the score to 68-47. The Jaguars were quick to make a basket soon after. Young stealthily rebounded the ball, though, and scored. Then, the Jaguars scored a three-point shot, but Young got the ball again and scored. Following this, Hemmerle got the rebound and assisted Young in making yet another basket. Prime then scored a three-pointer, the last of the game.
The Lady Crimsons won with a score of 77-60.
“I feel like we came out and showed a lot of effort. We’re really, really young- we have ten freshmen. So that was a lot of information that they had to grasp and get in a short period of time, and I think they really went out there and showed who the Lady Crimsons are,” head coach Ashley Franklin said.
Manual’s next game will be on Tuesday, Dec. 10, against Pleasure Ridge Park.
