By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SAND ROCK – By her own admission, Sand Rock junior guard Katelyn StClair hasn’t quite been herself lately from 3-point range. She said she’s been working with her brother Jacob and father Daniel the past couple of days in the gym from outside the arc.
As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect, and while StClair might not have been perfect from 3-point range on Friday night against Cedar Bluff, she connected on eight treys in leading the Lady Wildcats to a 73-53 victory on senior night.
StClair finished the game with 35 points. She was also 9-of-10 from the free-throw line and had six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
“She was on tonight,” Sand Rock coach Lisa Bates said. “She’s had a few games where she’s been off. She needed that. I knew her shot was on. I hope she keeps it that way for the next week (area tournament). That’s why I’m glad we’re playing here. She shoots well at home. I thought she had a good night.”
StClair did most of her damage in the second quarter. She scored 17 of her points then, including three 3-pointers. The Lady Wildcats (16-13) led 50-31 at halftime.
“We talked about before the game how we had to come out with a lot of energy and do our part,” StClair said. “I just felt that I needed to score, so I went and scored.”
StClair added three more treys in the third quarter to help the Lady Wildcats claim a 65-39 edge.
Sherina Foster contributed nine points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals for Sand Rock. Zoey Handy and Kennedy Henderson both had eight points. Handy also had seven boards and a pair of assists. Henderson grabbed 12 boards and had two steals and an assist. Jacey Stephens scored six points and had four boards, three steals and two assists.
Bates said she was worried about how the Wildcats would play on Friday night against Cedar Bluff after coming off a grueling 71-68 overtime victory at Hokes Bluff on Thursday. Her worry was put at ease thanks in large part to StClair.
“We needed a game like last night to push us and challenge us and make us work on the end-of-game situations. We were down and had to tie it up to go to overtime. We need those situations with this group of girls that don’t have a lot of experience in that. That was good,” Bates said. “I’m just glad to come out of there with a ‘W’ and come into tonight and have a good senior night.”
Kylie Vadon led Cedar Bluff (11-14) with 18 points. Caley Bruce delivered 15 points. Anslee Evans and Ciana Smith both rang for seven points. Za’Niya Kyle finished with six points.
Both teams now prepare for their respective area tournaments. Sand Rock hosts the Class 2A, Area 12 tournament beginning on Monday. The Lady Wildcats will open with Gaston on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Cedar Bluff travels to Spring Garden to take on Jacksonville Christian in the Class 1A, Area 12 tournament on Tuesday at 4 p.m.