The Class 3A eighth-ranked Jim Ned Lady Indians singed the nets at Warren Gym Tuesday night, and Brownwood was unable to match the firepower of its guests as the Lady Lions fell by a 59-37 count.
“Jim Ned came in and shot the ball very, very well,” said Lady Lions 12th-year head coach Heather Hohertz. “They shot 57 percent on 2s, 58 percent from the 3-point line and 71 percent from the free throw line. It’s hard to beat a team that shoots like that. Defensively, we were pretty good rotation-wise. I told them coming in Jim Ned was a really good team with really good shooters, and one assignment missed or one rebound missed was going to result in points and that was shown out there tonight.”
Despite the outcome, Hohertz was pleased with the fight and heart displayed by the Lady Lions in front of the home crowd.
“Overall I told the kids at halftime and after the game that I couldn’t ask for a better effort,” Hohertz said. “I thought we moved in the right direction effort-wise for four quarters. We were on the ground for those 50-50 balls, we were crashing the boards offensively, we were blocking out defensively, so we can build off that. Even down by 20 at halftime they didn’t look at the scoreboard, they came out and played hard.”
Jim Ned led 21-10 after one quarter, thanks in part to five 3-pointers, and owned a 37-17 halftime edge after burying seven treys over the first two frames. Brownwood faced a 50-23 deficit through three quarters, producing a game-low six points in third period.
“We still have to figure out who can step up and score,” Hohertz said. “We’re still struggling offensively and that’s a work in progress. We can find ways to score, but you can’t teach kids how to play hard and they definitely did that tonight.”
Mady Pyle scored a team-high eight points for Brownwood (3-4) followed by Naysa Leach with seven, Brooke Price and Tessa Goodwin with six apiece, Kynslee Walker with five, CarolAnn Hetzel with three, and Lindsey Larose with two points.
For Jim Ned (5-1) – which converted 10 three-pointers overall – Alexis Espinosa finished with a game-high 15 points trailed by Claire Graham with 14 and Claire Cooley with 12.
The Lady Lions will attempt to snap a two-game skid when they visit Class 6A San Angelo Central at 6 p.m. Friday. Brownwood’s next home game is Dec. 12 against Cisco.
