High-scoring Lady Demons improve to 4-0

Senior Rachel Montgomery goes high in the air to grab a rebound against Pendleton Co. She hit 7-of-10 shots and scored 18 points in the Lady Demons' win, which gives WHS a 4-0 record after two weeks.

Unselfish, high-powered offense leads way for WHS

By Wade Holland

Publisher

Coming into the season with high expectations, the Williamstown Lady Demons have not disappointed and currently find themselves rubbing elbows with three other undefeated teams atop the Region 8 standings through two weeks of play.

Williamstown has used an unselfish, high-powered offense to steamroll the competition on the way to a 4-0 start, the best for the program in at least two decades. The Lady Demons join Anderson Co., Trimble Co., and Shelby Co. as the region's remaining unbeatens.

Williamstown's offense was once again hitting on all cylinders in the Lady Demons' most recent win, a 73-53 victory over visiting Pendleton Co. on Dec. 11. The 73 points represent the second highest total this season for Williamstown, which leads the region with an average of 71 points per game.

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Four players scored in double figures in the win over Pendleton Co., which has been par for the course for the Lady Demons this season with four players averaging double digits. A total of six players have reached double figures at least once during the four-game stretch.

But the points scored is not what Coach Kasey Mason finds to be most impressive. She instead takes pride in the unselfishness displayed by the Lady Demons.

"Our girls are best at, and enjoy, playing an up-tempo, fast-paced game. That is our style of play," she said. "The girls are all about WE before ME basketball which is leading to us sharing the ball, and making extra passes, which has led to us taking higher percentage looks at the basket.

"For the first time since I've been here, every girl playing has the ability to step up and contribute offensively," continued Mason. "We have four averaging double figures right now and three others that are very capable of putting up those numbers on any given night as well....... The great thing is, not one of my girls thinks twice about, or cares who it's coming from, as long as we're putting points on the board and winning. I would guess that after the game they are clueless as to who has done what."

In the win over Pendleton Co., sharp-shooting Michaela Kennedy hit 5-of-10 from 3-point range on her way to a game-high 23 points. Senior guard Rachel Montgomery was next with 18 points, hitting 7-of-10 from the field.

Senior guard Katie Cheek, who had double-digit assists in the previous game, hit 4-of-5 shot attempts from the field and 3-of-4 free throws for 11 points in the win over Pendleton Co. Sophomore Haley Howe continued to play beyond her years with 11 points and multiple blocked shots and steals on the defensive end.

Along with Howe, another underclassman that has the Lady Demon faithful excited about the future is freshman Justice Chambers, who hit 3-of-5 shots for six points in the win over Pendleton Co., but did far more for her team than the box score indicates.

"We expect our veterans to be good shooters and decision makers, but really, our younger girls like Haley and Justice have stepped up huge and are taking great looks at the basket and doing so with confidence," said Mason. "In my past few years of coaching experience, I have learned that girls have a tendency to over think and analyze the game, especially when they're young. But Justice and Haley aren't playing at all like a freshman and sophomore and it's exciting for us coaches because we preach mental toughness and confidence every day."

Juniors Sydney Taylor and Olivia Souder added two points each to the Lady Demons' winning total.

Senior Katie Cheeks splits two defenders on her way to the basket for two of her 11 points. Cheek hit 4-of-5 shots in the game.

As a team, Williamstown hit 53 percent of its shots, including 40 percent from 3-point range against Pendleton Co. Those numbers are right in line with the Lady Demons' season averages.

Williamstown will be on the road for the foreseeable future with away games at Trimble Co. and Newport on tap for later this week, followed by a trip to Oldham Co. during the Christmas break for the South Oldham Lady Dragon Hoop Fest. The Lady Demons' next home game is scheduled for Jan. 4 against visiting Holmes, followed by a Jan. 7 visit from Notre Dame.