By Malcolm Butler
Mallory Smith scored a game-high 23 points to lead No. 9 seed Cedar Creek to a 66-22 win over No. 24 seed Slaughter Charter Community Thursday night at the Brickhouse in the first round of the Select School Division IV playoffs.
The game was a good ole fashion mismatch as the Lady Cougars jumped out to a 27-6 lead after eight minutes and then coasted to the victory, setting up a second round game at St. Martin’s Episcopal Monday at 6 p.m.
Creek head coach Katie Hall said she liked a lot of what she saw from her team.
“We jumped out on them with a lot of energy,” said Hall. “We shared the basketball and had a lot of assists. We got up on them pretty quick and pretty good. Our seniors played great. Mallory played great. She had lots of steals and layups. Our defensive energy was much better. I am very pleased. They were very fun to watch tonight.”
Smith scored 13 first quarter points while Leah Sutherland added six points and Olivia Underwood four points as Creek jumped out to a 21-point first quarter lead. The second quarter saw more of the same as Smith added seven more points and Ainsley Riley netted four as the Lady Cougars outscored Slaughter 23-10 to take a 50-16 advantage into the locker room.
Smith totaled 20 of her 23 points in the opening half.
“She was good at finishing around the basket,” said Hall. “She was getting steals and attacking. Her outside shot wasn’t falling so she started taking it to the basket. They turned the ball over. She would steal it and go score. She finished around the basket. It was a very physical game. I was proud of our girls for handling that type of physical game.”
Hall was able to rest many of her starters in the second half as a running clock led to a quick final two quarters.
Sutherland added nine points while Underwood and Mary Grace Hawkins each added seven points.
The Lady Cougars improved to 17-11 on the season and will turn their attention to Monday night’s showdown at St. Martin’s Episcopal (16-5).
“Blake (Duncan) has watched a little film on them,” said Hall. “I watched a little bit, but I don’t know them very well yet. They run a 2-3 zone but I don’t know much besides that. We will start to gameplan for them (Friday) and into the weekend.”
