By BOB REDD
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
TAZEWELL, Va. — Pressure can be tough to handle and such was the case Friday night as the Lebanon Lady Pioneers defeated the Tazewell Lady Bulldogs 54-25 at Tazewell Middle School.
Lebanon came out of the locker room pressing and its full court pressure forced Tazewell into numerous turnovers as the Lady Pioneers opened an 8-0 lead. The Lady Bulldogs did not get on the board until four minutes remained in the opening quarter, on a basket by Whitney Saunders.
Elizabeth Johnson was key for Lebanon on both ends of the court, stealing and creating pressure on defense and converting baskets on the offensive end, leading the Lady Pioneers to a 14-4 lead after one quarter.
Lebanon head coach Rex Parker said, “We hit two or three threes to open the game, stretched out a little lead and our press gave them a little bit of trouble.”
Lebanon turned it up a notch to open the second period and went on an 11-3 run in the first two minutes to take a 25-7 lead. The Lady Pioneers then called off the press and took a 29-9 lead into the intermission.
Tazewell struggled on both ends of the court in the second half and the Lebanon lead grew as high as 32 points before the final buzzer sounded.
“I think everything they gave us, gave us a lot of trouble — press, shooting, non-defense, or non-execution. We didn’t come to play tonight,” said Tazewell head coach Jason Southworth. “That’s the worst I have seen our girls play since they were in eighth grade. They didn’t show up to play — offensively, defensively, taking care of the basketball. There was no subject of basketball tonight. I don’t take anything away from them (Lebanon), they are a good team. We just didn’t contest shots and if you’ve got varsity girls wide open they are going to make it.”
Taylor Woodlief led Lebanon and all scorers with 16 points. Lindsey Stinson added 12 and Johnson and Hannah Cox tallied 10 apiece.
“Johnson, she is averaging about 12 a game, leading the team in assists and steals and she’s my only senior,” Parker said. “Woodlief hit some big threes to get us going.”
Saunders led Tazewell with seven points.
The Lady Bulldogs are now 8-6 and play next on Tuesday at Richlands.
Lebanon improved to 8-4.

At Tazewell Middle School
LEBANON (8-4)
Sarah Stanley 0 0-0 0, Tracey Brooks 1 0-0 2, Lindsey Stinson 5 2-2 12, Elizabeth Johnson 4 1-2 10, Taylor Woodlief 6 0-0 16, Monica Parrott 0 0-0 0, Lexi Cantrell 0 0-0 0, Madison Compton 2 0-0 4, Hannah Cox 3 3-4 10, Totals 21 6-8 54.
TAZEWELL (8-6)
Kaley Holloway 1 2-4 4, Shayna McNulty 0 0-0 0, Gracey Cline 2 0-2 4, Ally Lee 1 0-1 2, Whitney Saunders 3 0-2 7, Layken Sparks 0 0-0 0, Haley Christian 1 1-2 3, Autumn Hash 2 1-2 5, Totals 10 4-13 25.
Lebanon..................14 15 15 10 — 54
Tazewell...................4 5 9 7 — 25
3-point goals: L 6 (Johnson, Woodlief 4, Cox); T 1 (Saunders). Fouled out: T- Hash.