Third-ranked Lady Indians knock out Poolville, 47-19

POOLVILLE — Foul trouble hampered the third-ranked Lipan Lady Indians' Tuesday, but bench depth led to a 47-19 win over Poolville to keep their District 11-2A basketball slate perfect.

Poolville (8-13, 4-4) threw everything it had at Lipan (22-5, 7-0) and ended up getting Taylor Branson, Lynsey Little, and Madison Harrison in some early foul trouble. At the same time, Lipan was missing the mark in its shooting from the field — but that didn't last for long.

"It didn't help when Taylor and Linsey got two fouls in the first half," Lipan head coach Amber Branson said. "I think Maddie picked up two fouls, too. That took us out a little bit from what we normally do, but thankfully we have 11 kids, and we can run people in and out. Everybody steps up and does their job. That's why basketball is a team sport and not an individual sport."

Any thoughts of a Poolville upset were rendered moot in the second quarter, where Lipan turned a 13-8 lead to 25-12 at halftime, but the Lady Monarchs still gave it everything they had in their arsenal.

"I told the girls that everyone is going to give us their best because we are out on front right now – that and they are fighting for their playoff spot from the district as well," Branson said. "Right now, mathematically, none of the remaining teams we play could catch us, but they still could bump their chances up for a better playoff berth. Everyone is going to give us their best more than usual just because they are fighting for those spots."

There was no catching the Lady Indians Tuesday as Lipan continued a steady offensive attack while preventing Poolville from possessing the ball, much less scoring. The Lady Monarchs would manage seven third-quarter points, but Lipan blanked Poolville in the final eight minutes.

The game situation and Branson's regular rotation were all that was needed.

"We have always talked about it in practice that at any given moment, you need to be ready. Whether you are in the game or on the bench, you need to be engaged in the X and O's, but also you need to be engaged emotionally and backing your team so if something goes everybody needs to be cheering, and if something goes bad – then you need to be picking them up." Branson said. "I always talk about how we are all one. There's not just one of us, and that it takes all of us."

While there were a few things to fault, Branson didn't like how her team started to play.

"I didn't feel like we came out very strong. I felt like we were a little bit on our heels and not the aggressor when usually it is the other way around," Branson said. "It's good that we don't rely on just one person because if someone does get into foul trouble, we have people who can step in. If we don't get them that experience, they won't know what to do in a tight, close game when we need them. So, it's good to get them experience, no matter whether it is because of foul trouble or just because of game situations. That way, it plays out in our favor later down the road."

Lipan's fourth-quarter play was solid, and Branson noted it.

"We have always prided ourselves on our defense. So, to hold somebody to zero is pretty impressive," the coach said.

Lynsey Little's 11 points led the scoring despite having foul trouble. Chelsea Lott added 10 for the Lady Indians, followed by Hannah Gaylor with 8, Madison Harrison 7, Trinity Benitez 6, Madison Corneilus 3, and Jolie Russell 2.

Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 231