Everybody on the Madison County’s girls basketball team’s roster was in elementary school the last time the Mountaineers beat William Monroe.
Until Tuesday night.
Despite standout junior Lindsay McDaniel suffering an injury in the first half, Madison held on to beat the Dragons 43-38, surviving a furious fourth quarter rally by Monroe after the Dragons’ Hailey Morris and Ella Weaver each fouled out. It was Madison’s first win over the Dragons since December of 2013.
Dy’Ehisa Tyler finished with 13 points for the Mountaineers, knocking down five of eight free throws in the fourth quarter to help lift Madison past the Dragons. Sterlyn Woodward added 12 points while Kate McLearen and Jadira Smith had six points each.
William Monroe simply couldn’t get going offensively especially early on with just two first quarter points on Iyanna Carey free throws while Madison scored 15 points with seven coming from Woodward. The Dragons notched 10 points in the second quarter and actually won the frame 11-6, but Madison’s early lead was enough to maintain an 11-point halftime lead.
Down the stretch, Whitlee Swink hit a 3-pointer in the third for Madison as the Mountaineers continued to keep Monroe at arm’s length. Tyler, Woodward and McLearen then notched field goals in the fourth to prevent the Dragons from overtaking them with Chloe Rush heating up with seven fourth quarter points and Carey notching six. Carey finished with 11 points and Rush had 10. Weaver chipped in nine points before fouling out. Avery Shifflett had six points.
The Mountaineers will look to keep their momentum going Wednesday on the road against Clarke County while the Dragons will hit the road Thursday against Manassas Park.
