Sorrells sinks winning FT; Lady Raiders rally from 12 down vs. Elbert

Madison County trailed by 12 in the fourth quarter against the visiting Lady Blue Devils, but managed to erase the lead in the final moments.

“It was kind of unexpected because we were playing lethargic the entire game and then all of the sudden we had a little life to us and built on it,” said Lady Raider coach Dan Lampe. “It was a weird couple of minutes where we just outworked them and got some offensive boards and put backs.”

The coach said it was great to see the squad come alive.

“We hadn’t been playing well all night, missing layups and giving up dribble penetration to them,” said Lampe. “We just couldn’t get in a rhythm and all of a sudden, we found that rhythm midway through the fourth quarter and really stunned them. They were on their heels.”

The game was similar to the Hart County game the previous Tuesday night, a contest that the Lady Raiders whittled away at a big lead late, but dropped 50-46.

The Lady Raiders didn’t fall short Saturday.

“I think it was just a pride thing,” said Lampe. “The girls didn’t want to lose to Elbert County.”

Lampe noted that his “big 3” — Sorrells, Molly Glaze and Elyse Coberly — all made clutch plays in the waning moments, including a steal by Glaze and a clutch three by Coberly, prior to Sorrells’ winning free throw. Lampe praised Coberly’s defensive effort and work on the boards.

And the coach said Sorrells’ clutch free throw will help her beyond Saturday night.

“I told her after that that she can always draw on making that shot; it will calm her every time she’s up their now,” said Lampe.

Sorrells led Madison County with 19, while Glaze had 14. Colberly finished with seven, knocking down two three pointers.

Madison County’s other game this weekend, a Friday night showdown with Franklin County, wasn’t nearly dramatic.

The Lady Raiders put a defensive tourniquet on the bucket and wouldn’t let the ball in. Madison County, which led 23-16 at the half, outscored the Lady Lions 14-2 in the third quarter to pull away in the 46-27 win.

“They didn’t score until 21 seconds on the clock left in the third quarter,” said Lampe. “We challenged the team to just come out and dominate defensively in the second half and they did.”

Coberly led the team with 13. Sorrells had 12, while Glaze had 10.

While his team has shown some defensive prowess, Lampe said the squad doesn’t have a lot of continuity offensively.

“It’s kind of like we’re all playing individually,” said Lampe. “We haven’t gelled it all together where we’re working as a unit offensively.”

Still, this past weekend was a very good one for the Lady Raiders.

“The game against Hart was a heartbreaker,” said Lampe. “So for us to come out against Franklin with all that energy was good. We just have to out-effort teams. And I felt we really out-efforted Franklin County.”

The Lady Raiders hope to repeat that performance this Saturday when they travel to Franklin County at 6 p.m. The girls will play again Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Providence Christian.

The coach said standout post player Nekeia Brown, who has been out with a knee injury, may be back in action this weekend.