Close game for Lady Dawgs, but no win
The junior guard launched a running layup at full speed in traffic over the outstretched arms of several defenders. The ball hit high and hard on the backboard, but missed the mark. The Lady Dawgs, who had led most of the way, suffered their fifth loss, a 43-44 home decision Dec. 2, to go with their four wins.
“It was a very competitive ballgame,” said Burnet coach Mike Cavender. “We just didn’t make enough plays down the stretch to win. The game was close the whole way and we led for about 31 of the 32 minutes of the contest. We would make a run to pull away and they would fight their way back in.”
Graeter, who has been turning heads with her much-improved offensive game this season, nailed three three-point shots in the opening quarter to propel Burnet to a 16-9 advantage. In the second quarter, the Lady Dawgs hit only one shot from the field, a long-ranger by Brooke Rockafellow to open the period and then went into a seven-minute drought. The only relief came from Kerystn Towslee’s two free throws at the 2:27 mark to keep Burnet on top, 21-18, at halftime.
Burnet continued their shooting slump from the field into the third quarter. Manor, with their twin 4-foot 11-inch sophomore guards applying more defensive pressure, catapulted ahead of the Lady Dawgs. Graeter added two bonus shots to regain the lead but misfires by the Lady Dawgs for more than five minutes stalled their attack.
Key plays by Burnet’s inside players finally jump-started the Lady Dawgs. Junior Eden Sultemeir took an offensive charge and sophomore Jessica Robinson powered in a layup and followed it by twice blocking Manor’s athletic senior post who had been dominating the lane. Mckinsey Cozart added a bucket and Towslee delivered a two-pointer and two free throws to put Burnet back in front after three quarters, 31-28.
In the fourth quarter, the Lady Dawgs found the range in the first two minutes and extended their lead to 10 points on scoring by junior guards Graeter and Towlsee and then went into a slide. The next six minutes were harrowing for Burnet as their shots and passes went awry. Their lead dwindled on Manor’s 16-3 rally and their desperation shot failed in the closing seconds.
“Burnet is physical and extremely disciplined,” said Manor coach Kerri Kirby. “They run their transition very well. We are a young team and still having to learn to play together.”
Graeter and Towslee led the Lady Dawg scorers with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Rockafellow finished with five and senior Manda Martin had four. Both Cozart and Sultemeir were credited with three points apiece and Robinson accounted for two points.