Fort girls remain unbeaten as Indians take down Draft
Fort head coach Patrick Hartley, in his 10th season at the helm, couldn’t recall the last time the Indians opened a season 4-0, but admitted it has been quite a few years.
Faith Farley, the lone senior on Fort’s roster, has never started 4-0 and she is savoring every moment.
“It is exciting to know we have the potential to do something great,” she said. “It has been rough the last few years, but I am thankful we are getting there before I go.”
Farley was front-and-center during two key stretches for the Indians. She had seven points during a 13-0 run to open the game, and then with the Cougars staging a massive rally in the third quarter that saw the home team pull within five points, Farley drilled consecutive 3-pointers to restore order.
The game couldn’t have started any better for the Indians, or any worse for the Cougars. Fort never trailed after its 13-0 opening burst. The beginning was the exact opposite from two nights ago for Draft, which scored the opening eight points at Riverheads.
“We talked before the game about the importance of a fast start,” Hartley said. “Draft had a good win in its last game, and we didn’t want that confidence to carry over. You can’t let young teams hang around and build confidence.”
The Cougars didn’t change the scoreboard until the 1:46 mark when their only senior Monique Ayres dropped a triple from the top of the key. Fort led 15-3 after the first eight minutes thanks to a steal and driving layup at the buzzer by MaKayla Kershner.
Draft’s McKinley Fitzgerald hit two 3s to account for all the Cougar scoring in the second period as Fort led 23-9 at the break. The Indians’ biggest first-half margin came at 21-6 after back-to-back buckets from Catie Cramer and Jordan Schultz.
Besides the poor shooting, the Cougars hampered their cause with 10 turnovers, including seven in the first quarter.
Draft came out a different team to begin the second half, scoring the first nine points, four of those from Ayres, who led the Cougars with 10 points, as the deficit was suddenly cut to 23-18.
“I challenged the girls at halftime that the first three minutes of the second half were crucial,” Hartley said. “Draft took it to us and we partially self-inflicted with poor offensive execution.”
Then came critical breakdowns by the Cougars. Trailing 25-20, Draft committed back-to-back turnovers. On the defensive end, the Cougars lost Farley on both possessions and she made them pay with her consecutive bombs that opened a 31-20 margin with 1:05 left in the quarter.
“We had to something to keep the lead,” said Farley, who finished with a game-high 13 points. “We had to keep pushing ourselves.”
Draft head coach James Carter pointed to that stretch as the difference.
“We left the shooter open after both turnovers,” Carter said. “Our youth showed there. Then the girls got down on themselves. I keep telling them the scoreboard isn’t our measuring stick. We have to take care of ourselves first.”
The Cougars got within nine, 34-25, on Fitzgerald’s third 3-pointer, but Fort responded with baskets from Kaleigh May and Cailin Wright to seal the deal.
The Cougars won the jayvee game in thrilling style, scoring the game’s final five points in the last 27 seconds for a 29-26 come-from-behind victory. Leah Wood sparked Draft with 11 points, while Kiersten Ransome tallied seven for the Indians.
- By HUBERT F. GRIM III For The News Virginian
Fort head coach Patrick Hartley, in his 10th season at the helm, couldn’t recall the last time the Indians opened a season 4-0, but admitted it has been quite a few years.
Faith Farley, the lone senior on Fort’s roster, has never started 4-0 and she is savoring every moment.
“It is exciting to know we have the potential to do something great,” she said. “It has been rough the last few years, but I am thankful we are getting there before I go.”
Farley was front-and-center during two key stretches for the Indians. She had seven points during a 13-0 run to open the game, and then with the Cougars staging a massive rally in the third quarter that saw the home team pull within five points, Farley drilled consecutive 3-pointers to restore order.
The game couldn’t have started any better for the Indians, or any worse for the Cougars. Fort never trailed after its 13-0 opening burst. The beginning was the exact opposite from two nights ago for Draft, which scored the opening eight points at Riverheads.
“We talked before the game about the importance of a fast start,” Hartley said. “Draft had a good win in its last game, and we didn’t want that confidence to carry over. You can’t let young teams hang around and build confidence.”
The Cougars didn’t change the scoreboard until the 1:46 mark when their only senior Monique Ayres dropped a triple from the top of the key. Fort led 15-3 after the first eight minutes thanks to a steal and driving layup at the buzzer by MaKayla Kershner.
Draft’s McKinley Fitzgerald hit two 3s to account for all the Cougar scoring in the second period as Fort led 23-9 at the break. The Indians’ biggest first-half margin came at 21-6 after back-to-back buckets from Catie Cramer and Jordan Schultz.
Besides the poor shooting, the Cougars hampered their cause with 10 turnovers, including seven in the first quarter.
Draft came out a different team to begin the second half, scoring the first nine points, four of those from Ayres, who led the Cougars with 10 points, as the deficit was suddenly cut to 23-18.
“I challenged the girls at halftime that the first three minutes of the second half were crucial,” Hartley said. “Draft took it to us and we partially self-inflicted with poor offensive execution.”
Then came critical breakdowns by the Cougars. Trailing 25-20, Draft committed back-to-back turnovers. On the defensive end, the Cougars lost Farley on both possessions and she made them pay with her consecutive bombs that opened a 31-20 margin with 1:05 left in the quarter.
“We had to something to keep the lead,” said Farley, who finished with a game-high 13 points. “We had to keep pushing ourselves.”
Draft head coach James Carter pointed to that stretch as the difference.
“We left the shooter open after both turnovers,” Carter said. “Our youth showed there. Then the girls got down on themselves. I keep telling them the scoreboard isn’t our measuring stick. We have to take care of ourselves first.”
The Cougars got within nine, 34-25, on Fitzgerald’s third 3-pointer, but Fort responded with baskets from Kaleigh May and Cailin Wright to seal the deal.
The Cougars won the jayvee game in thrilling style, scoring the game’s final five points in the last 27 seconds for a 29-26 come-from-behind victory. Leah Wood sparked Draft with 11 points, while Kiersten Ransome tallied seven for the Indians.
