Priceville gets past West Limestone

Published 3:12 pm Wednesday, December 5, 2018

West Limestone got off to a poor start against Priceville and could never recover in a 56-45 loss Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs opened the game by scoring the first five points. They led 9-2 before West Limestone could get some shots to fall. After one quarter, Priceville led 19-11.

“We missed some easy shots at the beginning of the game, and I felt like we never got back into a rhythm,” said West Limestone girls coach Chasity Legg. “I felt like (Priceville) did a great job defensively.”

The game featured two highly recruited players — West Limestone freshman Caroline Bachus, who is holding offers from Missouri, Ole Miss and Georgia Tech, among others, and Priceville sophomore Jenna Walker, who has offers from Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech.

Priceville made sure not to let Bachus beat them. The Bulldogs double-teamed her as much as possible and played tough defense. The defensive strategy worked, as Bachus was held to just three field goals, although she did hit 7-8 free throws to finish with 15 points.

Walker, meanwhile, had a game-high 20 points, including making 7-8 free throws. She had a big 3-pointer late in the third quarter when West Limestone had cut the lead to five points.

The 3-pointer sparked a 7-0 run that gave the Bulldogs a double-digit lead, and the Wildcats could never get close again.

Priceville slowed the offense down in the fourth quarter and played keep-away, forcing the Wildcats to guard for a long stretch and try to force a turnover or foul.

When West Limestone did foul, Priceville made them pay with free throws. The Bulldogs hit 7-9 free throws to keep a comfortable lead.

Cassidy Winter led West Limestone with 16 points, while Bachus had 15 and Savannah McConnell added seven.

In addition to Walker’s 20 points, Priceville was led by Skyler Benson with 15 points and Katie Wheeler with 13.

It was West Limestone’s first loss of the season. The Wildcats will open up area play at Elkmont Friday night.

Boys

West Limestone 62, Priceville 36

West Limestone turned a close game into a blowout with a strong second-half performance against Priceville Tuesday night.

West trailed 13-12 after one quarter and led just 23-18 at halftime. But the Wildcats expanded the lead to 40-31 after three quarters and then outscored the Bulldogs 22-5 in the fourth quarter to turn the game into a runaway.

Chayse Carter led West Limestone with 16 points, while Braden Tuten scored 14 and Thorne Slaton chipped in 11.

Priceville was led by Brock Payne with 12 points.

West Limestone plays at Elkmont Friday night.