Now five games into the 2017-18 season, South Warren is doing one particular thing quite well: shooting the ball from three-point range.
In its season-opening win over Allen County-Scottsville, the Spartans nailed 13 shots from deep while shooting 40 percent. They then hit 21 combined in victories over Barren County, Murray and Franklin-Simpson – and that hot shooting carried over into Friday’s game against Warren East.
South Warren netted seven threes on the night – including four in the first half – and rolled to a 79-26 win over the Lady Raiders to move to 5-0 for the first time ever. Peyton Ferry knocked down the Spartans’ first two of the contest and they continued stroking from there.
“You’re record is all relative to your competition – and we’ve played some good competition so far,” South Warren coach Blane Embry said. “I told our girls that I still think we’re improving, which is what you want to see. We still have a long way to go, but you like 5-0 start. You can’t complain about that.”
Amaya Lasley led the way for South with 17 points while Sarah Dennison added 15 and Jordan McDonald scored 13. Ferry tallied 8.
Three early threes from the Spartans helped them build a double-digit lead of 15-4 at the 4:01 mark of the first quarter. Six points each from Ferry and Dennison in the period propelled South Warren to a 24-8 advantage after one.
“Oh yeah, no doubt about it,” Embry said when asked if the Spartans’ three-point shooting will continue to be key for them this year. “We had several different kids hit a three tonight and we hit seven of ‘em. It’s fun – and it’s a big part of it.”
Warren East was outscored 21-6 in the second to trail 45-14 at halftime. With that comfortable lead, South Warren cruised through the second half to stay perfect on the season.
“I’m excited for this crew,” said Embry. “They enjoy playing together and that’s what you like to see. There was no let down, even when we got way ahead. When kids work hard, they succeed.”
Senior writer Tyler Mansfield can be reached at mansfield.sportingtimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @_TylerMansfield.
