FORTVILLE — Sydnee Perry’s 11 first quarter points led the Mt. Vernon to a big early lead Friday night, and they never let up.
Mt. Vernon’s girls basketball team cruised to its second win of the year, a 59-29 win against Connersville.
“She’s just a good player,” Mt. Vernon head coach Julie Shelton said of Perry. “She’s our go-to kid and a good player. She plays hard all the time, gets a lot of steals and deflections and is playing with a lot of confidence.”
Perry wasn’t the only one getting in the passing lanes early on, though.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
Lexi Shelton’s two steals, combined with Perry’s two conventional three-pointers and a three-point play, put Mt. Vernon ahead 9-0 in the opening minutes.
Connersville wouldn’t get on the board until the Marauders had already put 15 points on the board and more than four minutes had come off the clock.
“A quick start in any game helps with confidence and helps you relax and play,” Shelton said.
Along with her 11 first quarter points, Perry picked up two fouls in the quarter and foul trouble plagued her throughout the night.
Connersville’s Jessica Beckman and Mt. Vernon’s Abby Worley each put up six points in the second quarter, which was played far more evenly than the first.
With Perry having to take extended absences to avoid further foul trouble, Worley led a balanced attack.
“We had a pretty good night as far as balance,” Shelton said. “Abby Worley struggled a little in the first quarter and then had a really good game handling the ball and shooting the rest of the game. Almost everybody scored and that’s a good thing. I like to see the balance that we have.”
Worley finished with 13 points, Lexi Shelton finished with 10 and nine of the 11 Marauders that saw the floor put the ball in the hoop.
Mt. Vernon dominated the second half as well, only surrendering 15 points through both quarters.
A 12-1 Marauder run to end the third, featuring four different scorers, sealed the game if it hadn’t been already.
Mt. Vernon’s full-court press was, for the most part, indicative of the Marauder’s evening.
When it worked well in the first quarter and the second half, the Marauders rolled.
“I think we played hard and we got a lot of good traps,” Shelton said. “We still have a ways to go, but for being this early in the season, I’m proud of how well they’re playing.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Boxscore” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Mt. Vernon 59, Connersville 29
Mt. Vernon;18;11;16;14;—;59
Connersville;3;11;9;6;—;29
Mt. Vernon (2-1): Shay Shipley 1 0-0 3, Tessa Freeman 1 0-0 2, Abby Worley 5 0-0 13, Olivia Yeley 2 1-2 5, Riley Hasseld 0 0-0 0, Faith Hayes 1 0-0 2, Lexi Shelton 5 0-0 10, Lindsay Hartl 0 0-0 0, Maddie Swingle 3 1-1 7, Sydnee Perry 5 2-2 14, Sydney Powell 1 0-0 3. Totals: 24 4-5 59.
Connersville (0-2): Gianna Struewing 0 0-0, Giovanna Struewing 0 0-0 0, Marley Smith 0 4-4 4, Lauren Thompson 5 0-1 14, Paige Dunaway 1 0-1 2, Tylissa Beckner Jr. 0 0-0 0, Elise Bottomley 1 0-0 2, Jessica Beckman 2 2-3 6, Maranda Cranfill 0 1-2 1, Sammi Potters 0 0-0 0. Totals: 9 7-11 29.
3-point goals: Mt. Vernon 7 (Perry 2, Shipley, Worley 3, Powell), Connersville 2 (Thompson 4).
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Other county scores” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Eastern Hancock 55, Centerville 38
The Royals used a 12-1 run at the end of the first half to push ahead for a season-opening road win.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
