Staff Reports
New Waverly girls basketball coach Eldridge McAdams took the blame for the Lady Bulldogs slow start Friday in the opening round of the North Zulch tournament.
After all, McAdams, who was driving the bus, got lost and New Waverly made it just in time to get in a quick warmup before the opening tip. But once the first quarter was over, the Lady Bulldogs used a smothering defense to roll to a 58-34 victory over Iola.
New Waverly (7-2) will face the winner of Friday’s late game between the Bryan junior varsity and Centerville in the second round today at 4:30 p.m.
“We started slow and it was my fault,” McAdams said. “I got lost and we got there late. We had to rush through our warmup and we were cold shooting in the first quarter. Our defense picked up and we settled down and started making some shots. We rolled from there.”
New Waverly only led 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Dogs held Iola to only four points in the second period to build a 21-10 advantage at the break.
The Lady Dogs scored 37 points in the second half and never looked back.
Myeisha Williams led New Waverly with 27 points and six rebounds. Alex Abbott chipped in 12 points and Kayla Williams and Whitney McCullough each scored six. Jai Cleveland, who pulled down a team-high eight boards, and Victoria McCullough both added two points.
“We played really well the whole second half,” McAdams said. “Kayla wasn’t feeling well and sat out most of the third quarter. But Myeisha and Alex knocked down some outside shots and really stepped up. That’s what I need from them.”
