The Times

Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Fulton Fry Lady Gator forward Sheneria Taylor looks over the defense.

The Lady Gators came up short in a recent Region XIV showdown with the Panola Fillies by a 63-47 count in a game that was marred by poor shooting from both teams and some questionable officiating.

The Fillies jumped out to a 5-2 lead as both teams struggled offensively early. Both teams shot poorly most of the evening, but in knocking down an early three and getting some penetration inside from their guards Panola seized the early advantage.

The Lady Gators tried a number of lineup combinations in an effort to get on track, but shots simply weren't falling. Normally shooting accuracy is a strength of the Lady Gators, but it was clear early that even the typically accurate Kaylin Little was having trouble finding the bottom of the net.

Freshman guard Takeisha Johnson said, "The Fillies were very vocal and loud in their on court communication; at times it was distracting."

Of Panola, head coach Eric Taylor said, "They are perhaps not the most talented team in the league but they are well coached and they execute."

Despite the Fillies defense, the Lady Gators went on a good run toward the end of the first half, with sophomore Darshell Hatch crashing the boards with abandon and forcing turnovers.

However, it seemed that every time the Gators seemed poised to make a run at the lead, the action was stopped by a referees whistle. The game degenerated into a free throw shooting contest, and the Gators struggled at the charity stripe, going only four for nine in the first half.

At halftime the Fillies had regained some of the ground the Gators made up in their surge and held on to a 31-24 advantage.

The Lady Gators tried to get back in the game with an uptemo defense and judicious use of the three ball, but the shooting woes continued as the Gators only managed to sink three of 29 attempts.

Typically, the Lady Gators shoot about 33 percent from behind the arc, making the poor outside shooting in the Panola game an aberration.

"We aren't a bad team, but many of these players weren't recruited to fit my system and most of my sophomores didn't play a lot last year," Taylor said. "We don't have much size, and what size we have lacks experience. Our only true "big" Ashley Watson only played one year of high school ball."

Continued...

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