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Fort Payne girls crush Scottsboro

By Lew Gilliland
The Times-Journal

Published December 2, 2009

Chalk up another easy win for the Fort Payne girls.

The No. 5 Lady Wildcats built a 28-7 advantage in the first quarter Tuesday night and handed visiting Scottsboro a 91-41 setback in Class 5A, Area 14 high school basketball.

Fort Payne won three games at the Pell City Thanksgiving Tournament by margins of 33, 36 and 43 points last week, and this one was never a contest.

Fort Payne had six players score in double figures and forced 14 turnovers in the first quarter and 28 for the game.

Conner Jordan led Fort Payne’s first-quarter barrage with eight points.

Fort Payne coach Steve Sparks said his team played well on both ends of the court.

“I really thought this was one of our better games in that we really played well defensively,” he said. “I thought our defense set the tone for our offense.

“After defensive stops or defensive plays, we got a lot of transition baskets. We had six folks in double figures, which is very important. With six or seven or eight folks scoring in double figures, it’s going to help us out.”

Alicia Williams paced Fort Payne (6-0, 1-0) with 19 points, eight assists and five steals. Jordan collected 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Tori Edwards and Diamond Elston contributed 14 points apiece. Michelle Swopes added 13, and Taylor Dean netted 10.

Elston’s totals included six boards.

Fort Payne shot 37 of 83 (44.6 percent) from the field, including 8 of 22 from 3-point range.

Edwards, Elston and Swopes scored four points apiece in the second quarter as Fort Payne pushed the margin to 45-19.

Fort Payne led 70-31 after three periods.

Sparks said opening area play with a victory was important. The regular-season area champion plays host to the area tournament.

“You’re always preaching to the team that they’ve got to focus on these area games and not let one slip by you,” he said. “One loss or two losses could cost you the right to host the area tournament.

“Each game, you’ve got to come focused and prepared, regardless of what your record is, regardless of what the other team’s record is.”

Tyris Branford led Scottsboro (2-6, 0-2) with 18 points. Katie Kirkland had 10.

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