The Gemma Parks era started off with a W on Monday as Clay County upended Whitley County in a battle in Manchester
The Lady Tigers used a 16-point, 15-rebound effort from Mackenzie Sizemore to defeat the Lady Colonels, 57-52.
Lauren Sizemore scored 15 points for Clay County while Jaylen Combs added 10 points, and Julia Collins finished with seven points.
The game was close throughout with both teams scoring 13 points apiece in the first quarter while the Lady Tigers led 27-25 at halftime. Whitley County outscored Clay County, 14-12, in the third quarter, sending the game into a 39-all tie with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
The Lady Tigers managed to pull out the win by outscoring Sean Pigman’s team, 18-13, in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Colonels’ bench play played a big part in the win, outscoring the Clay County, 19-7, but the Lady Tigers won the rebounding edge, 42-39, while limiting Whitley County to 20-of-56 shooting from the floor.
Pigman’s squad also shot a dismal 6-of-25 from the free-throw line while the Lady Tigers were 14-of-25 from the charity stripe.
Clay County’s finished the game hitting 19-of-47 shot attempts while going 5-of-17 from 3-point range.
