Mercer Christian 53, New Life 40

By TOM BONE
Bluefield Daiy Telegraph
PRINCETON — On “Blackout Night,” Brown was the focus in the girls game.
The reigning Bluefield Daily Telegraph-Pocahontas Coal Association player of the week, Jamie Brown, scored 33 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lady Cavaliers.
Mercer Christian (8-8) went ahead 10-9 on the first of many fast-break layups by Brown, and never trailed again. Brooke Bradford and Sami Goings had 16 and 11 rebounds respectively for the Lady Cavs.
New Life (5-5) got 29 points and 20 rebounds from Rachel Brown, and 18 rebounds from Bryce McCourt.
Mercer Christian head coach Shelia Otey said, “Rachel is a very good ballplayer. ... We knew we had to contain her pretty much to come away with a win.”
MCA led 30-22 at halftime, then limited the Lions to five points in the third period.
New Life Christian head coach Gary Johnson said, “We felt like we were still in pretty good shape (at halftime). Some fouls on our shooters hurt us a little bit. It was hard to come back.”
Otey said, “That box-out on defense just means everything ... then down the floor we can go.”
“These first-time players are really executing well.”
In the final period, Jamie Brown put on a dribbling clinic while being double- and triple-teamed.
“We put the ball in her hands, she can control the tempo,” Otey said. “Even when they put two or three on her, she can handle the ball.”
The Lady Cavaliers wrap up their regular season on Feb. 25 at home against Mount View.
— Contact Tom Bone at
tbone@bdtonline.com


At Mercer Christian Academy
Girls game
NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN (5-5)
Courtney Dean 1 3-4 5, Kate Waddell 2 1-2 6, Rachel Brown 11 4-10 29. Totals 14 8-16 40.
MERCER CHRISTIAN (8-8)
Jamie Brown 12 8-17 33, London Taylor 4 0-0 9, Sami Goings 2 1-2 5, Brooke Bradford 1 0-2 2, Shae Mullins 1 0-0 2, Leah Billings 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 9-12 53.
New Life Christian..........11 11 5 13 — 40
Mercer Christian.............12 18 15 8 — 53
Three-point goals — NLC 4 (Brown 3, Waddell 1); MCA 2 (Brown 1, Taylor 1). Total fouls — NLC 19, MCA 15. Fouled out — NLC, Dean; MCA, Taylor.