Quigg helps power Baker past Laurel Hill

BAKER – Cassidy Anderson and Kathryn Quigg combined for 32 points as Baker held off a pesky Laurel Hill team 49-40 in girls basketball Monday night.

Anderson led the way with 18 points and Quigg chipped in 14 in the win.

Baker coach Brian Wagner gave his team’s performance mixed reviews.

“We had bright moments where played very well and moved the ball very well and played solid defense,” Wagner said. “And we had moments where we thought the ball was a hot potato and we had to get rid of it, and that showed by the unforced turnovers we had.”

The game got off to a fitting start with Morgan Jones, one of two Lady Gators seniors honored on Senior Night, scoring the first basket.

But as would be the case throughout the game, the Lady Hoboes responded with Sara Schulmeister scoring to tie things up.

Laurel Hill (8-13) took its only lead of the night at 4-2 with 1:15 gone in the first quarter on a LaQuetta Williams basket.

Back-to-back baskets by Anderson put the Gators (19-2) once and for all with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

The Baker senior duo of Jones and Dani Mayhair did most of the damage in late stages of the first quarter as Baker built a 20-10 lead at the end of the quarter.

After spotting the Lady Gators 10 points, the Lady Hoboes played Baker even the rest of the way.

Schulmeister, Williams and Jhanae Griffin teamed up to score 12 of Laurel Hill’s 14 points in the second quar-ter. Anderson continued to spark the Baker attack in the second period scoring eight of Baker’s 14 points.

The Gators led 34-24 at the half and extended the lead to 47-32 after three and appeared to have the game well in hand.

Wagner sat his starters most of the final period as the Lady Hoboes hung tough. A basket by Williams with 1:23 left in the game cut what had been a 15-point Lady Gator advantage to seven points at 47-40.

Laurel Hill got no closer, as a Quigg basket with 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter pushed the Baker lead back to 49-40 and turned out to be the last score of the game.

Williams led Laurel Hill in scoring with 11 points. Schulmeister added 10 and Griffin seven points.

Anderson and Quigg were the only two Baker players in double figures. Playing in their last regular season home game Jones and Mayhair had nice games with Jones scoring eight points and Mayhair six.

For the most part Laurel Hill coach Josh Steele was happy with the way his team played.

“We have played better as a team before and run the offense better, but we played well” he said. “The last time they beat us by 24 points and tonight they beat us by nine.

“The attitudes of the girls were much better tonight. The last time they looked worried. Tonight they looked happy and ready to play.”