Manchester freshman center Sydnie Cox (5) had 14 points and 11 rebounds in her high school varsity debut, a 51-22 win over Adena for the Lady Hounds

Kennedy, Cox pace Manchester to 51-22 win over visiting Adena – 

By Mark Carpenter – 

The first test of the youth of the Manchester Lady Greyhounds varsity basketball squad came on Monday, Nov. 27 as Coach Vohn Hoop and his troops opened their 2017-18 campaign by hosting the Adena Lady Warriors. It turned out to be a good match up for the Lady Hounds and a very good high school debut for their heralded freshman class as the Manchester girls got big nights from Brooke Kennedy and Sydnie Cox on their way to a 51-22 triumph.
Kennedy and Cox, both freshman, led the way for the Lady Hounds, both achieving double-doubles in points and rebounds in their high school debuts. Add that in with a solid Vohn Hoop zone defense and it all added up to the big margin of victory for the home team.
“I jokingly told the kids that if you don’t win the first one, you can’t win them all, though I’m guessing we won’t win them all” said Coach Hoop. “Adena was a team that we felt like we could handle and with some tough games coming up we need to get off to a good start tonight. Our freshmen tonight were what we thought they would be and they will just continue to get better. We were a little sloppy, missed a lot of easy shots, but they have to just get used to the speed and physicality of the high school game.”
“We still have to be more patient on offense and understand our roles on that side of the court.”
There was never any doubt as to the outcome of Monday night’s contest as the Lady Hounds raced to a quick 7-0 lead behind Kennedy and Cox and a nice offensive rebound and score by Darrington White. Two free throws by Karigan Turner put the home team up 10-4 after one quarter of action.
Manchester blew the game wide open in the second quarter, as they went on an 8-0 run that actually spanned nearly six minutes, six minutes in which they held Adena scoreless. A three-pointer by Emily Sweeney began the period, followed by a basket by Kennedy, a White free throw, and a Kennedy stick back that made it 18-4.
After Adena finally scored with 2:27 left in the quarter, the Lady Hounds got a bucket from C.J. Hobbs and two White free throws to take a 22-10 advantage to the halftime break.
In the third quarter, two Kennedy free throws and a bucket by Cox kept the lead at 26-12, and back to back Kennedy buckets later were part of a 5-0 run that ended the third with Manchester in front 31-14.
The fourth quarter began with a 6-0 Manchester run, two baskets by Cox and one by Kennedy. After a basket by Adena’s Hannah Stark, the Lady Hounds ran off six more in a row with a bucket inside from Cox and scores from Turner and Josie Campbell. That made it 43016 and the Lady Hounds were controlling the proverbial driver’s seat.
Adena got the next four points, but again the home side responded with an 8-0 spurt that included a Campbell jumper off the baseline and two baskets by McKenzie Smith. Two free throws by the Lady Warriors ended the night’s point production and when the final horn sounded, the Lady Hounds left the court with win number on under their belts, handing Adena the 51-22 defeat.
“It was important for these girls to get the win tonight,” said Hoop. “We only won two last year so we are off to a rip-roaring start.”

Manchester freshman Karigan Turner grabs a loose ball during action from last Monday night’s varsity girls game, won by the Lady Hounds by a final score of 51-22.

Brooke Kennedy began her high school career with a bang, leading her team with 15 points while also grabbing 15 rebounds, while fellow freshman Sydnie Cox notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards. Karigan Turner added 6 for the winners, with McKenzie Smith and Josie Campbell getting 4 each.
Hannah Stark led Adena with 14 points.
The road got a whole lot tougher for the Lady Hounds with their next outing, a Thursday, Nov. 30 home match up with the Lynchburg Clay Lady Mustangs, in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference opener for both teams, On Saturday, Dec, 2, Manchester will be out of conference again, hosting the Augusta Lady Panthers.

Adena
4 6 4 8 –22
Manchester
10 12 9 20 –51

Adena (22): Stark 7 0-3 14, Johnson 0 2-4 2, French 1 0-0 2, Putnam 0 2-2 2, Redden 1 0-0 2, Team 8 6-11 22.
Manchester (51): Turner 1 4-5 6, White 1 1-2 3, Cox 6 2-5 14, Smith 2 0-0 4, Campbell 2 0-0 4, Kennedy 6 3-5 15, Sweeney 1 0-0 3, Hobbs 1 0-0 2, Team 20 10-17 51.
Three-Point Goals:
Manchester (1): Sweeney 1