MTZ Girls Basketball goes 0-2 last week

Denver Anderson goes up for a shot in a 70-41 loss against Taylorville in the Taylorville Turkey Tournament on Saturday.

By Blake Faith
Staff Writer

The Mt. Zion girls basketball team finished up their holiday tournament in Taylorville with losses to Taylorville (70-41) and Jacksonville (28-27).

In the Taylorville game, the Braves went back and forth with the Tornadoes. Abby Scharf found and open Bracie Barnes who made a mistake-range jumpshot to tie the game at 2-2. Barnes made two free-throws on the next possession to tie the game at 4-4.

The Braves took the lead on their next possession when Scharf found Denver Anderson open for a three-pointer to give the Braves a 7-6 lead. Next possession Anderson nailed a mid-range jumper to give the Braves a 9-6 lead.

The Tornadoes chipped at the lead, but Barnes and Anderson ended their run. Barnes made a mid-range jumper and Anderson drove for a layup to put the Braves up 13-10.

The Tornadoes rallied making back to back pointers to give them an 18-13 lead. Anderson then nailed a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Taylorville lead to 18-16.

The Tornadoes went on a 19-2 run in the second quarter to give them a 37-18 lead to end the first half.

In the third quarter, Anderson scored nine straight points to begin the quarter. Anderson made two driving-layups and converted on five free-throw shots which cut the Tornadoes’ lead to 47-27.

Next for the Braves scoring would be Barnes. Ella Sommer assisted Barnes who made the lay-in to cut the lead to 53-29. A few possessions later, Anderson found Barnes for a layup that would closed the lead to 53-34 to end the third quarter.

“We had some improvement, the fact we scored double digits in two quarters, that’s something we have not been doing at all,” Head coach Steve Marbel said. “We started well and I was very pleased with our start. I think the first quarter was good. I don’t know what happened to the second quarter. You know, we had a come to Jesus talk at halftime, and in some specific individuals that specific come to Jesus moments there. And I thought we came out in the third quarter with some better energy and some things there.”

Anderson finished the game with 19 points and five rebounds. Barnes finished with 14 points and five rebounds.

In the game against Jacksonville, the Braves lost 28-27. Scharf led the Braves with 10 points and 7 rebounds.