Howe blasts Battiest

By CRAIG HALL
HOWE—Howe’s girls overcame a slow start while the boys thrived even with coach Brooks Cawhorn home sick here Monday against Battiest.

The Lady Lions improved to 20-1 overall with the 61-36 win while the boys were in complete control in a 62-34 win.

In the first game, Howe led only 30-24 at halftime and had to score two baskets in the final 20 seconds to up the lead to six.

Battiest got plenty of good shots in the first half as Howe’s usual tough defense did not fare all that well.

But the second half was a completely different story. Keyed by a couple of steals to open the second half, Chelsea Baggs scored four quick points and after Tori Kellogg hit a three and Shelby Brown scored another basket, the Lady Lions opened with a 9-2 run to open a comfortable lead.

Counting the last four points of the first half, Howe outscored Battiest 27-9 in a stretch that reached into early in the fourth quarter. By the time the run was over, the Lady Lions led 53-32 and there was no chance of a comeback by the Lady Panthers.

Howe finished strong in the fourth quarter also, even though the bench emptied early. The Lady Lions outscored Battiest 12-4 in the final quarter.

Kellogg was the leading scorer for Howe with 11 while Shelby Brown added 10. Shaylie Cobb led Battiest with 22.

In the second game, Battiest stayed reasonably close at the end of the first quarter, trailing only 13-8. The second quarter, however, was all Howe as the Lions went on an 18-3 run to blow the game open.

Howe led 31-11 at halftime and coasted over the final two quarters as assistant coach Shane Brown led the Lions in Cawhorn’s absence.

Like in the earlier game, Howe got all its players playing time or the game could have been even worse.

Jaron Wiggington led Howe with 20 points as nine different Lions scored. Cabin Wilson paced Battiest with 12 points.

Howe is back in action Tuesday at McCurtain.