Poor shooting dooms Lady Bulldogs, again

The Union (Dugger) Lady Bulldogs wrapped the 2009 portion of their schedule with a 35-29 loss to Noble, Ill. in the Red Hill Holiday Tournament at Bridgeport, Ill. Tuesday night.

The Lady Bulldogs were once again hampered by a common foe -- poor shooting from the field.

According to coach Benji Boyd, it was business as usual, unfortunately.

"It's the same old story," Boyd said. "We just didn't shoot very well."

Boyd lamented that Noble had found the solution to the Lady Bulldogs' biggest problem for defenders -- how to shut down the middle of the paint and keep post player Shayna Nicol at bay.

"They were big and packed it in a 2-3 zone," Boyd said. "That allowed them to keep us from getting it inside to Shayna. And we couldn't hit anything from outside."

Nicol was held to just five points, a total that included just a pair of field goals and 1 of 4 shooting from the line. She had 17 points Monday night in a loss to Lawrenceville, Ill.

Cheyenne Goodman led the Lady Bulldogs with nine points followed by Morgan Stanifer with seven and Chelsea Goodman and Taylor Woods with four each.

Connor Kendall also played but didn't score.

"We shoot about 18 percent from the field as team for the year," Boyd said. "And I bet we were way under that tonight."

Union (Dugger), who fell to 2-9 on the year, returns to action Monday, Jan. 11 when they travel to Riverton Parke.

Red Hill Holiday Tournament

at Bridgeport, Ill.

NOBLE, ILL. (35) -- H. Ash 9 4-4 23, E. Taylor 2 1-3 5, W. Reynolds 0 1-4 1, D. Michaels 0 0-0 0, M. Payne 1 0-0 2, N. Thomas 1 2-2 4. Totals 13 8-13 35.

UNION (DUGGER) (29) -- Cheyenne Goodman 3 0-1 9, Morgan Stanifer 3 1-1 7, Chelseas Goodman 2 0-0 4, Taylor Woods 1 2-4 4, Shayna Nicol 2 1-4 5, Connor Kendall 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 4-10 29.

Noble, Ill. 9 4 11 11 -- 35

Union (Dugger) 5 5 10 9 -- 29

3-pointers -- Noble 1 (Ash), Union (Dugger) 3 (Chey. Goodman 3). Total fouls -- Noble 12, Union (Dugger) 15. Fouled out -- none.