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Crosby s 18 leads rally to triumph

Published: 01/30/2008
Emily Horos
WOODSTOCK - The McEachern girls got the win they were looking for Tuesday night when they downed Etowah, 50-38. While most of the game wasn't pretty, their coach, Phyllis Arthur, said that didn't really matter.

"I feel like a lot of teams want to beat us, but we want to beat everybody as well," she said. "Right now it doesn't matter how we get that win. I don't care if it is one point. We just want to win."

Trailing by as many as eight points in the opening period, the Lady Indians slowly crept into Etowah's lead and trailed by just three, 20-17, at the half.

During the break, Arthur told her players they needed to start making outside shots if they wanted to pull away.

At least one player - Adriana Lard - was listening. The senior responded by knocking down a trio of 3-point shots and scoring all of her 13 points in the second half.

The Lady Indians also took advantage of their deep bench and were able to substitute liberally. In the end eight players scored for McEachern with Kyra Crosby leading the way with 18 points.

As McEachern reached its stride in the second half, the Lady Indians' production began to struggle. Etowah's leading scorer, Tennessee signee Alicia Manning, who finished the game with 14 points, was held scoreless in the third, while both Lard and Crosby were hitting their strides for McEachern.

McEachern gained ground in the third quarter by outscoring the Lady Eagles, 12-10, and with the opening shot of the fourth quarter, it finally captured the lead that would not be relinquished.

McEachern bolted ahead with 5 minutes left when Lard dropped her second 3-pointer of the quarter for a 40-34 advantage. In addition to a pair of baskets by Crosby, the Indians went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minutes to seal the victory.

Moniqua Darby also scored seven points for McEachern.

Both teams will continue their Region 5AAAAA schedules Friday with Etowah hosting Murray County and McEachern hosting Woodstock.

The Lady Indians wrap up the regular season with three straight home games - Woodstock, Marietta, and Kennesaw Mountain - but Arthur said that doesn't make it any easier.

We have to bring our 'A' game every night," she said. "We can't come in here and commit turnovers. We have to prepare for every game because they are going to be prepared."