“It seemed like we kept getting momentum, and then we would start making a lot of turnovers,” said Munford head coach Anne Hopkins. “It was good that we had our final run there at the end because, otherwise, it would have been a dogfight.”
Munford got off to a great start, scoring the game’s first eight points. With 3:36 left to play in the first quarter, TC Central scored their first points of the game on a short jumper from Debria Stallworth.
“We got in a hole early because I felt like we didn’t have the energy that we normally play with,” said TC Central head coach Robert Duncan. “Overall I’m satisfied. We did come out and redeem ourselves in the second half. I thought we fought. We just didn’t close it out.”
The Lady Lions led by eight points for most of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers pulled within six points of the lead as Wyckoff scored with 11 seconds left. Munford led TC Central 15-9 going into the second quarter.
With less than three minutes left in the half, Munford’s Shak Thomas scored on a fast break to extend the lead to 13 points. TC Central responded as Tiarrial Duncan took the ball the length of the court and scored on a layup. Going into halftime, the score was Munford 25, TC Central 14.
TC Central began to gain momentum early in the second half. With 3:31 left in the third quarter, Duncan connected with a 3-pointer. Duncan then made a steal and was fouled as she attempted to shoot. She made both free-throws to bring the Lady Tigers within four points of the lead.
However, with 2:24 left in the quarter, Munford turned to the full-court press which led to nine unanswered points to end the third. Munford continued the full-court pressure in the final quarter. Munford’s defensive play, along with nine second half points from Thomas proved to be too much for TC Central to overcome.
“Shak just gets after it all the time,” said Hopkins. “She attacks the basket, and she really affects the game. That’s why we adore her.”
Munford’s Kierra Groce led all scorers with 14 points, followed by Briana Kidd with 13 and Shak Thomas with 11.
TC Central’s leading scorers were Glenice Wyckoff with nine points and Tiarrial Duncan with eight.
The Munford Lady Lions advance to the second round of the Talladega County Basketball Tournament, and will play again this Thursday at Sylacauga High School.
Contact Kenny Farmer at kfarmer@dailyhome.com.
