The Trigg County Lady Wildcats are now off to their best start in a basketball season in ten years. The Lady Wildcats accomplished that feat by grinding out a 38-29 win over the Murray Lady Tigers Thursday night at Wildcat Gym.
The win moved Trigg County to 2-0 on the young season, marking their first 2-0 start since the 2011-2012 season when they opened the season at 3-0 with wins over Fort Campbell, Crittenden County, and Dawson Springs.
While the win may not have been the most stylish, and Trigg County had its struggles at times on the offensive end, the Lady Wildcat defense smothered the Lady Tigers’ offense for most of the night. In two of the four quarters, the second and the fourth, Trigg County limited Murray to less than five points.
Olivia Noffsinger helped get the Lady Wildcats started, as the two teams went back-and-forth through the opening quarter. Noffsinger would score six points in the first eight minutes as the two teams were knotted up at 10-10 after one.
Trigg County’s defensive pressure out front in the half-court began to wear on Murray in the second quarter. The Lady Tiger guards had problems dealing with the constant harassment from Noffsinger, Kara Hyde, Tajah Grubbs, and Sarah Sink and ball security became an issue for Murray,
The Lady Wildcats limited Murray to just two field goals in the second quarter as Trigg County took a 20-14 lead into the locker room at the half. Trigg also had the momentum as Noffsinger came up with a steal in the final second of the half and got the ball to Kara Hyde, who drilled a three as the horn sounded.
The two teams played fairly even in the third quarter. Trigg County was able to push the lead out to 32-25 going into the final quarter.
It was at that point that the Trigg County defense clamped down again, and Marleigh Reynolds took ownership of the glass. The Lady Wildcats would only score six in the final period, but held Murray to just four to secure the win. Had the Lady Wildcats seen a bit more success at the free-throw line, the final margin would have been even more comfortable, as Trigg was only 10 of 23 from the line.
Olivia Noffsinger led the way for Trigg County with 14 points. She also had 5 rebounds and 5 steals on the night. Kara Hyde finished with 11 points, including three shots made from behind the arc. Marleigh Reynolds would get 10 points and 21 rebounds before fouling out with 2.2 seconds to go in the game.
Trigg County ended the night 12-54 from the field, and 4 of 18 from behind the 3-point line. Trigg’s defense had 12 steals and forced Murray into a total of 22 turnovers in the game.
Alyssa Daughrity was the only Lady Tiger to reach double figures with 11. Makira Bomar and Madeline Howell added six points each.
MHS — 10 4 11 4 – 29
TCHS — 10 10 12 6 – 38
Murray (0-2) – Daughrity 11, Howell 6, Bomar 6, Downy 3, Wray 2, Smith 1
Trigg County (2-0) – Noffsinger 14, Hyde 11, Reynolds 10, Sink 3
