The 2023-24 edition of Kingston High School Girls basketball got underway on November 28 with a visit fromtheAtokaLadyWampus Cats. After a busy summer, theLadyRedskinsandCoach Chad Rumer were anxious to playsomemeaningfulgames. The girls from Atoka brought their “A” game and held the lead into the third quarter when senior Emily Bellettini and junior Joley Hayden took control of the game and eased the Lady Redskins home with a eleven point, 62 to 51, victory.
The season opener was meaningful for senior Jayda Foster because Foster lost the entire last season to major knee surgery. She said she was happy to be back in the lineup. She was joined by Bellettini, Hayden,JaciHerndon and Avery Ludrick.
After the tip, Rumer settled his charges into a fastpaced game that suited the Lady Redskins. The Atoka girls liked it, as well. They were hitting everything they put up. Despite five points each from Bellettini, Hayden and Herndon the ladies trailed after one quarter, 17 to 15.
Secondquarterwasalmost a carbon copy of the first, as far as the lady Wampus Cats shooting was concerned. The Lady Redskins were getting to the foul line but were struggling. Bellettini had a three and a two-point bucket. Herndon scored, Ludrick managed 2 of 4 from the line. Hayden had a field goal and was 1 of 4 from the line. Cassidy Walker had a bucket. The Lady Redskins found themselves still trailing by three, 32 to 29.
Two things happened in the third quarter. The Atoka shooting cooled off and the Lady Redskins became more aggressive on the offensive end, this by way of the threepoint shot. Bellettini had two threes, Hayden had one and added a field goal and a free throw. Foster had her first goal, as did Ludrick and Carli Lilley. This was an 18-point quarter, The Lady Redskins held a three point lead, 47 to 44 going to the fourth.
Bellettini saw to it that the lead stayed with the Lady Redskins. She has a great fourth quarter with two buckets and was 4 of 4 from the line. Hayden added another three pointer to her total. Herndon and Walker each had free throws. The final score, 62 to 51, Lady Redskins off to a 1 and 0 start.
Box Score: Bellettini led the team with 25 points, including triple three pointers. Next was Holden with 17 points including triple three pointers. Herndon was next with eight points. Ludrick was good for four, Walker three, Foster two and Lilley with two.
Lady Redskins v Lady Cougars
Coach Chad Rumer and his Lady Redskins move to 2 and 0 during the young season with a win at Ada on December 1. The final score in this one, 51 to 46. The Lady Redskins used a formula of different girls stepping up at different times and it seemed to work out well.
In the first, the Lady Cougars did not seem to have a plan to stop Emily Bellettini and her inside moves to the goal. Three buckets and 1 of 2 from the line and they were off to a good start. Joley Heyden and Jayda Foster eachhadfieldgoals.TheLady Redskins trailed by two, 13 to 11, after one quarter.
The second quarter had the score tied at 18 all. Bellettini had three more buckets, but help was coming from all over. Jaci Herndon had a three, Avery Ludrick and Cassidy Walker had buckets, while Heydon added a free throw. Now the lead was theirs, 26 to 22 going to the lockers.
The third quarter had Herndon doing the heavy lifting. She was good for eight on two three pointers and a two-point field goal. Foster added another field goal. Bellettini was 2 of 2 from the line. The Lady Cougars were not giving in, however, and the score was tied, 38 to 38 going to the fourth.
The fourth quarter action was hotly contested all the way to the finish. Field goals were hard to come by, Bellettini and Foster each had one. It was at the line where the Lady Redskins pulled away and stayed there.
Bellettini was 2 of 3 and Foster was 1 of 2. However, it was Heydon who had been relatively quiet the first three quarters, but decided to be known and goes 6 of 6 from the line. With 52 seconds left, Heyden 2 of 2, with 38 seconds to play, Heyden 2 of 2, and with 14 seconds to play, Heyden 2 of 2. Games can be won or lost at the free throw line and this one was a good example of that. The final score, Lady Redskins, 51 to 46 over the Ada Lady Cougars.
Box Score: Bellettini led the team with 19 points, she wasfollowedbyHerndonwho had 11. Next up was Heydon whohadnineandFosterwith seven. Walker finished with three and Ludrick had two.