Lady Bobcats drop district opener to Kountze

Orangefield stubbed its toe in its opening game of district for girls basketball. The Lady Bobcats fell 42-24 to the Kountze Lady Lions at the Orangefield Gymnasium on Tuesday, December 5.

Kountze never trailed in the game taking the opening tipoff and scoring the first basket just seconds into the action. The Lady Bobcats kept the score close in the first quarter trailing 4-3 after Mikayla Locke sank two free throws before the Lady Lions made the last three points of the quarter to go up 7-3 after one.

Locke connected on the first field goal of the night for the Lady Bobcats to start the second period, but Kountze went on a seven-point run after that. Mikayla hit a three-pointer late in the half to stop the streak, but the teams went to their locker rooms with the Lady Lions leading 14-8.

The third quarter saw Orangefield have its best period of shooting scoring 13 points more than half of its total for the game. Five different Lady Bobcats put the ball in the hole, however, Kountze responded by scoring 15 points to increase its lead to eight points 29-21 after three periods.

The Lady Lions carried their momentum into the final quarter and pretty much made the outcome a run away. Kountze played tight defense forcing multiple Orangefield turnovers while limiting the Lady Bobcats to only a three-point bucket by Steeley Franklin early in the fourth.

Mikayla Locke reached double figures for Orangefield with 10 points adding 5 rebounds and a steal. Brooklyn Wagoner made two baskets in the third for her 4 points. Kaylea Gravett and Steeley Franklin both finished with 3 points. Rebecca Durbin grabbed 9 rebounds and made one shot for 2 points while Greenlea Oldham pulled down 8 rebounds to go with her 2 points.

The Orangefield Lady Bobcats play their next two district games on the road. On Tuesday, December 12, they faced Buna, and on Friday, December 15, they travel to Kirbyville.