Dora Lady Falcons add two wins, bring season record to 9-5

The Dora Lady Falcons basketball team hosted Chadwick (7-2) on Monday, Jan. 4, and pulled out a thrilling 42-41 victory over the  Cardinals. “We came out really strong to start the game,” said Dora coach Cole Garnette. “We were hoping to start off strong and be able to push them the whole game and take away some of the things they do defensively. The girls played hard all night and executed our game plan extremely well.”

Riley Collins led the scoring with 18 points for the Lady Falcons, followed by Cassidy Hambelton with 10 and Chesney Luna with 9. McKenna Miller added 4 and Lauren Martin chipped in 1. Collin Miller and Luna led the rebounding column with 5 each. Cassidy Hambelton led in assists with 5.

“Chadwick is a good team, and they didn't let us just run away with it,” added Garnette. “They fought back and made it a game and made us work for every point at the end. Cassidy Hambleton is having a good year and is really trusting her teammates more than she has in years past, and it is showing. Riley Collins is stepping up her senior year and performing at a high level as well.”

The Lady Falcons chalked up another win when they traveled to Mountain Grove and defeated the Lady Panthers 46-38 Thursday, Jan. 7, bringing their record to 9-5.  

Cassidy Hambelton had a great game, scoring 29 points for the Lady Falcons. Riley Collins added 11, and McKenna Miller scored 6. Hambelton and Collins led in rebounds with 5 and 4, respectively. Hambelton also led in steals with 10 and assists with 4.

“We came out a little slow to start the game but eventually had a 10-point lead in the second quarter,” Garnette added. “To Mountain Grove's credit, they didn't lie down. They fought back and made it a 2-point game going into halftime, and I think they even led us by a point at the end of the third quarter. We found a way to win, though. We have been down several games late in the game, and I keep telling the girls that good teams find a way to win. Fortunately, the girls are doing just that. Even if our games may be close and stressful for their old coach; they are finding ways to win.”

Dora hosted Couch Monday, Jan. 11. On Thursday, the Lady Falcons travel south to take on Gainesville’s Lady Bulldogs at 6 p.m., and on Monday, Jan. 18, Dora hosts Hartville (11-4), with the girls’ game beginning at 7:30 p.m., following the boys’ game.

Ozark County Times

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