Warriorettes fall short to Upperman in District opener

The White County Warriorettes and the Upperman Lady Bees added another classic contest to their rivalry as the two squads opened up district play in Baxter. The lead would switch sides of the scoreboard throughout the night, but it was the Warriorettes who found themselves on the wrong side of a 47-41 score at the final buzzer. 

The start didn't go the way Sparta would have hoped. The team's leading scorer, Gracie Clark, and Kyra Fox, a great defensive help, both found foul trouble early. 

However, the game would stay close with no more than two points separating the teams at the end of any of the first three quarters. The end of the first saw a 6-6 score, Upperman would get a 20-18 advantage going into halftime, and the Warriorettes would take a 30-29 lead into the final frame.  

Sparta would take their largest lead of the night midway through the fourth, but it wasn't enough. The Lady Bees went on a run thanks to Gracie Butler to give Baxter the lead that they wouldn't lose.  

Upperman defeated White County 47-41 and knocked the Warriorettes to 18-3 on the season and 0-1 in district play.  

Ultimately, the Warriorettes were in foul trouble for the majority of the game losing Clark and Fox until the third quarter. Sparta ended the game with Kyra Fox and Kylie Norris fouling out of the game, Ashlynn Selby having four fouls, and Gracie Clark and Sara Winfree with three fouls apiece. Lakelyn Grasty and Bella Winningham seemed to stay out of the fray with two fouls and one foul, respectively.  

Even though she played three and a half quarters, Clark scored the most with 16 points while Selby and Winningham had seven points apiece. Sophomore Kylie Norris scored five points while Grasty and Teagan Angel scored two points apiece.  

Even though the game went in favor of the Lady Bees, January 30 can't come fast enough as that will be when White County hosts Upperman. Before that, though it's a home game Tuesday against a tough Lady Panther squad from Stone Memorial. If you can't make it to the Roy, listen to radio coverage on 92.7 YERT FM.