Graceville Narrowly Escapes With Win Over Malone

By Clint Cox


The Malone Lady Tigers entered their home contest against Graceville on Tuesday night having lost almost three times as many games as Graceville. But nobody told Malone they were the underdogs and they fought to the very end before falling 41-38 in a Jackson County girl’s basketball battle.

For Graceville they shook off a sluggish start and had several opportunities to put the game away. But each time they tried Malone refused to roll over. Malone had taken the early lead on a couple of baskets by Vanessa Olds. Venisha Hearns gave Malone a 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. Graceville shook off their sluggish start beginning in the second quarter as Jessica McClendon and Tiara Sorey began to heat up. But Malone kept pace with a steal and lay up by Tessa Shack. Sorey pulled Graceville to within two points on a basket with two minutes to play in the first half. But Malone got a basket in the waning seconds of the half to take a 23-19 lead to the locker rooms.

Graceville came out in the second half and immediately went on the attack. Mychea Williams hit back to back buckets to give Graceville their first lead of the game at 24-23. But Hearns got Malone right back on top with a basket to reclaim the lead. Williams tied the game at 28-28 with two minutes to play in the third quarter. Kendall Asbury hit the final points of the third quarter to put Graceville up 31-28 going into the final quarter.

Graceville went up by as many as 7 points in the early stages of the fourth quarter and appeared on the verge of salting away the game. But Malone once again dug deep and fought back. Olds made it a one point game, 35-34, with just over four minutes to play. McClendon kept Graceville on top with back to back buckets, putting Graceville up 39-36 with three minutes to play. Olds pulled Malone back to within one point with two free throws at the 2 ½ minute mark. Up 39-38 Graceville went into a stall and the game was scoreless for the next two minutes. Malone had two chances late in the game to take the lead but could not get the ball to fall their way. Graceville got two free throws from Williams with seven seconds to play to put them up 41-38. A last second shot by Olds that would have tied the game clanged off the rim, allowing Graceville to hang on for the three point win.

Graceville, which improved to 19-3 on the season, was led by Williams with 14 and McClendon with 11. Wynnterra Pittman also added 8 points for Graceville. Malone fell to 10-9 on the year but are 6-2 in district play. They were led by Olds with 10 points and Hearns with 9.