By Leeann Tanner - Staff Writer
The Lady Raiders fell to 5-2 on the season Friday night with a loss at home to Ashland Blazer. The two teams topped the pre-season regional polls and everyone expected a fierce battle. The Kittens built an 18-point lead in the first three quarters as the Lady Raiders missed 15 consecutive threes. East’s senior Emily Slone nailed three from the perimeter and one from the field to cut the Kittens to a 46-40 lead in the final round. Two turnovers and two foul shots later, the Kittens had clinched the win.
“Ashland played well,” Coach Hager Easterling said. “It came down to another early season game between two good teams.”
Lakota Burge scored 18 points to lead East in scoring. Slone scored all 11 of her points in the fourth quarter and Jess Marshall finished with 10.
The Lady Raiders are gearing up for their annual Commercial Bank Queen of the Bluegrass Tournament, which kicks off Monday. East’s gals will face off with East Ridge at 8:15 p.m.
“They have three good guards,” Easterling said. “They like to penetrate and shoot threes. We need to be ready to go with fundamental defense.”
