Jeck fuels Southern's rally, but Powell prevails, 71-48

By Jenny Elder - Richmond Register Sports Writer

Too little, too late. 

Madison Southern’s girls basketball team tried to rally mid-way through the third quarter and three times cut visiting Powell County’s lead to nine. But, the deficit was too big and the comeback eventually fell short Friday as the Lady Pirates won, 71-48, in Berea.  “We’ve just got to make that run earlier,” Southern senior Nikki Jeck said. “We can’t be an up-and-down team. We have to play the whole game with that kind of intensity we had.” 

During the third quarter, Jeck had 11 of her game-high 27 points, seven during a 11-0 run to cut the deficit to nine, 43-34. She then scored four more points to close the quarter and opened the fourth with a lay-up to make the score 49-40. But, that was as close as the Lady Eagles would get. Powell (1-0) responded with a 22-8 run to close the game. 

Southern is still trying to find a rhythm after graduating three seniors, two who were key performers on the inside. The absence of Sierra Merida and Tiffany Willis was obvious as the Lady Pirates got second and third-chance opportunities on the offensive end all night. “That was the story of the game,” Southern coach Brian Cunigan said. “They whipped us on the offensive boards. We did a poor job rebounding and we did a poor job in transition defense. My hats off to them they took advantage.” 

It did not help matters much when junior Brittany Calhoun was saddled with three fouls early in the second quarter. The starting center battled foul trouble all night and never had a chance to get into a groove. “She knows that now and she sees what happens if she does get into foul trouble,” Jeck said of Calhoun. “I think she’ll be fine from here on out. She sees what she means to us when she is out there.” 

Stepping up was Candace Himes, who had four rebounds and Mary Mullins who grabbed five boards. Jeck, who was slowed by a virus, still managed to spark her team despite having to sit out more than she would like. 

In the first quarter, after grabbing an early 2-0 lead, Powell went on a 8-0 run. Jeck responded with her first five points from the free throw line and when Rachel Evans scored the Lady Eagles were back on top, 9-8. The one-point lead was short-lived as an offensive putback gave the Lady Pirates the lead again for good. Evans finished with eight points for Southern, Tish Wheeler had six, Alicia Sizemore had five and Kassie Damrell had two. 

The Lady Eagles return to action at 7:30 p.m. on Monday against Lee County in Berea.