Davis makes most of starting role for Lady Hounds

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

It was right before halftime and I had to sit down. That showed that our culture is there and they brought the energy when it happened. They looked at me and said 'we got you' and that’s awesome. I love to see that stuff.”

Landon Bentley, FMHS girls head coach

BUILDING

In my mind, we don’t give up and I need the intensity to continue to prep for the future.”

Taylor Hickey, Central Lee Head Coach

DONNELLSON – Central Lee coach Taylor Hickey doesn’t stop coaching – no matter what.
The Lady Hawks fell to a proficient and quick Fort Madison Lady Hound squad Saturday afternoon 61-31 behind sophomore Dayonna Davis’ 15 points.
With two minutes left in the game and down by 30 with subs in the game, Hickey was still shouting direction and giving instructions despite the game well in the Bloodhounds’ hands.
“I talked to the girls during a couple timeouts and even though we were going to lose, and I hate to say that, my mind always goes to if the game is 28-28 or 28-27 who do I want in the game? In my mind, we don’t give up and I need the intensity to continue to prep for the future,” she said.
Aside from the moments where Hickey could put in the philosophical building blocks for the future, Fort Madison dominated the game from the tip.
The Lady Hounds opened an 18-2 lead with about two minutes left in the first quarter on a steal and layup from Irelynd Sargent. Central Lee would get buckets from Kenna Sandoval and Taylor Jones for their only first quarter points. The Hounds would build on the lead with a 16-6 run in the second quarter highlighted by Molly Schulte’s 3-pointer that gave Fort Madison a full 22-point lead at 32-10. Davis and Sargent would score again before the half for a 39-14 lead.
Central Lee’s leading scorer, freshman Lizzy Mason, would get on the board for the first time with a bucket at 37-12.
Fort Madison's Halle Menke would get whistled for her third foul before the end of the half on a call that Hound Head Coach Landon Bentley didn’t agree with, prompting his first technical of the season.
“I’m proud of these girls. It was right before halftime and I had to sit down. That showed that our culture is there and they brought the energy when it happened. They looked at me and said 'we got you' and that’s awesome. I love to see that stuff,” Bentley said.
Central Lee was able to work through some of the Hounds’ full court pressure in the third period to convert some field goal attempts. However, they shot a dismal 10% in the third period going just 1-10, the lone bucket being a driving score from Mason while the Hounds stretched the lead to 30 points at 53-23 at the end of the first half.
Central Lee kept battling through the final period, and Bentley went to the bench early on to give some role players time on the floor.
Davis’ 15 was just what Bentley was looking for from the change in rotation. The Hounds were also without the services of Taylor Johnson in the post. Johnson was out with a medical issue.
“Davis’ athleticism is hard to match up with and we're gonna take advantage of that,” Bentley said.
“She’s excited. This was her first career start and, before the break, I got the team together and said Dayonna was going to break into the starting lineup and they accepted that. They’re great teammates. She’s producing and she’s showed why she deserves to be in the starting lineup today.”
He said Mason, who’s averaging about 15 points per outing, was held in check with 10 points, four coming from the freethrow line.
“I know her from summer workouts, she’s a great freshman and she will have a great four years of high school,” he said. “She makes things happen for their team but we keyed on her and took her out  to see if someone else would step up. They struggled a bit and that worked out for us.”
Hickey said she knew the game would be tough for Mason, whose family has been in the Bloodhound program in the past.
“We knew this game was going to be tough for Lizzy. Her family has coached for them and her sister played there, but on the court, we didn’t make an adjustment,” Hickey said.
“I think they just played solid defense. They are a defensive-oriented team. Irelynd is extraordinary with that. I told Lizzy to just keep her head. She’s small and gets pushed around a lot defensively, so I just kept telling her if you don’t bring the ball up, who’s going to?”
Sandoval led Central Lee with 13 points followed by Mason’s 10. Jones had seven and Sydnie Larson added a point for the Lady Hawks (3-7, 3-5). Central Lee takes on Mediapolis at home Tuesday and then New London on the road Friday.
Fort Madison got 15 from Davis and 11 from Hadley Wolfe. Aija Jenkins and Sargent each had 10 in the win. The Lady Hounds improve to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in Southeast Conference action. They travel to Keokuk Tuesday night and then head to Fairfield Friday before hosting Holy Trinity Catholic on Saturday.