Photos by Kevin Nagle
Abby Henson (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
CABOT — Raija Todd and the Bryant Blue Lady Hornets eighth grade team of Bethel Middle School were not going to let it happen again.
After 10 wins in a row this season, the Lady Hornets had suffered a tough 40-39 loss at Lake Hamilton in their previous outing on Monday, Jan. 27. On Monday, Feb. 3, Todd poured in 30 points as Bethel bounced back with a 38-32 win at Cabot South to run its record to 11-1 going into the final game of the season against Little Rock Episcopal this Thursday.
Of the four baskets that weren’t scored by the phenomenal Todd, she assisted on three including a baseline jumper by Danielle Singleton with 1:50 left in the first half, which cut into Cabot South’s 17-13 lead.
In the final 30 seconds, Todd dished to Baylee Rowton for a basket inside then beat buzzer herself with a 12-footer to put Bryant Blue on top 19-17.
That 6-0 finish to the first half led to a 12-2 start to the second that allowed the Lady Hornets to take control. Todd drained the second of her trio of 3-pointers and, after Cabot South scored, she fed Katie Evans for a basket to make it 24-19.
Moments later, Stephanie Cullen picked up an assist on a three-point play by Todd who followed up with a steal and a pair of free throws. Another Cabot South turnover led to a pull-up jumper by Todd that completed the 18-2 flourish, making it 31-19.
Cabot South cut the margin to 33-26 going into the fourth quarter but, as she did to start each half, Todd knocked down a 3 to start the final stanza. As it turned out, the final score was as close as the Lady Panthers could get.
Danielle Singleton (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
Todd’s opening 3 and a three-point play late in the first quarter had the Lady Hornets up 7-4 but the period ended with the teams deadlocked at 9. The two teams traded baskets early in the second quarter with Todd and Abby Henson producing Bethel’s buckets.
A little surge by Cabot South had the Lady Hornets down 17-13 at the 2:08 mark, leading to the game-breaking blitz.
Bethel coach Rhonda Hall instructs her squad during a timeout. (Photo by Kevin Nagle)
