By AMELIA CHEATHAM
On Jan. 22, in the Wayne Rickman Gymnasium, sneakers squeaked and whistles shrilled as the girls basketball team defeated Merritt Island, 59-15, bringing the team’s record to 15-8 for the season.
The home team took an early lead, with junior Carlyn Attaway scoring a rebound within the first 20 seconds of the first quarter. Senior Kendall Byerly and sophomore Kelsey Byerly, sisters, added to Attaway’s points with a three-point shot and free throw, respectively. Kendall Byerly and sophomore Amanda Oliver added seven points collectively, ending the first quarter, 16-3.
The Lady Braves continued to mount their lead in the second quarter, with sophomore Sadie Desroches shooting two free throws, making the score 23-7. After two timeouts, called by Merritt Island, the second quarter ended, 24-10.
Efforts by Desroches, junior Cassandra Ketchum and sophomore Emily Colvin in the third quarter helped the home team pull even farther ahead of its opponents. Desroches and Ketchum both made baskets, bringing the score to 34-10, and Colvin scored twice within the final minutes of the quarter. Her last-second two-point shot gave her team an even greater lead, 45-15.
In the final quarter of the game, the home team nearly quadrupled its opponent’s score, due in part to points earned by junior Carlyn Attaway and sophomore Madison Gonzalez. Continuing to dominate the court, as it did the entire game, Boone defeated Merritt Island, 59-15.
The Lady Braves will return to action when they face Freedom at Dr. Phillips on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.