“It was a huge win for us,” Childersburg head coach Lin Slater said. “We haven’t beat Talladega in four or five years. We talked about it and we were determined to come out and get a big win on Talladega’s floor. We were a little shaky to start off, they were a little anxious, but they pulled themselves together midway through the first quarter and played a really good game. I was really proud of the effort that they put forth tonight.”
Mac Kelley had a huge first quarter for the Lady Tigers of Childersburg. The junior scored 11 of Childersburg’s 15 points in the first quarter. Kelley scored four points off Talladega turnovers to give the visiting Lady Tigers an 8-5 lead. She also showed off her midrange jumper off which gave Childersburg a 10-5 lead.
Kelley drained a 3-pointer from the right wing with less than two seconds remaining in the quarter to make it 15-5.
“Mac is just a difference maker,” Slater said. “That is what I call her. She is a difference maker when she is out there on the floor. She is a great leader. She just has the insight on how to get to that ball. That is what she is zoned in on and that is how she scores majority of her points off steals and in transition. She does a really good job of leading the team in that area.”
In the second quarter Childersburg scored eight of their 14 points in transition. Tariah Reynolds scored on a fast break to make it 17-5. Kelley hit a jumper in transition to make it 19-5. Rodrieka Barclay pushed Childersburg’s lead up to 14 points 21-7 on a put back. Reynolds capped off the run with a layup off the steal and assist from Kelley to make it 23-7. Jamesha Chatman scored four points to end the quarter to cut the Childersburg lead down to 29-12.
“We want to be a defensive team,” Slater said. “We want to be looked at as a defensive team. I put defense first in everything that we do in practice. We are working on getting faster and we are working on getting quicker to the ball.”
Childersburg continued to pour it on in the second half. Kelley scored back to back lay ups off steals to make it 35-18. Cierra Swain scored consecutive baskets on strong post moves to make it 39-20.
Canesha Calhoun ended the quarter with a 3-pointer from the left wing to make it 42-20.
Kelley led the way for Childersburg with 17 points. Kaylin Starks added nine points for the Lady Tigers.
Chatman led Talladega with 10 points.
Childersburg takes on St. Clair County on Friday at 6 p.m.
