Lions win at Andover girls

By Sam Jack TSnews

The Goddard Lions girls basketball team extended its unbeaten streak to 6-0 with a 32-31 win at Andover last Tuesday, then saw that streak snapped with a 46-40 loss at Andover Central on Friday.

“The Andover game – that game was crazy,” Lions head coach Marcus James said. “They’re guard heavy, we’re guard heavy. We just played great defense down the road in the second half; held them to 7 points and outscored them, 15 to 7.”

Senior Maycee James hit the game-winning bucket with 2 seconds left to play.

“That was a great, great way to come back and say, ‘Welcome to 2022,’ as far as our season,” James said. Goddard: Maycee James 17, Marayah Coleman 8, Lauryn Gordon 4, Bailey Scoggin 3.

At Andover Central, the team came in excited to try to defend their unbeat- en record against one of the top teams in Class 5A.

The Lions had a 23-15 lead at halftime, but the Central Jaguars outscored Goddard 14-8 and 17-9 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to claim the 46-40 win at home.

“Maycee got in foul trouble, so that didn’t help at all, but credit to Andover Central: They kept shooting. They’re a shooting team,” James said.

Central player Ellie Stearns got hot in the second half to help propel her team to the win. She finished the game with 28 points, leading all scorers.

The Lions had a 1-point edge, 38-37, with 1:40 left to play, but Andover Central wrestled the lead back with time draining away.

“We had to foul, and they hit their free throws, so there’s your ball game,” James said. “That’s one of those things where you don’t feel like you played bad; you’ve just go to play better when it counts. We played to our expectations.”

Maycee James has consistently had double-doubles this season, providing leadership for the Lions. Marcus James also highlighted sophomore Lauryn Gordon for “stepping up and being a leader,” and noted that freshman Marayah Coleman has been playing well.

“We’re just trying to get more people to contribute in the stat column. Effort column, everyone is getting on the floor, stuff like that, but we need the rebounds and assists and points to go up all across the board. That’s the challenge for my team, to be more balanced, and help us have a chance to succeed even more,” James said.

On Tuesday, the Lions hosted Eisenhower. This Friday, Jan. 14, they will host Salina Central. Goddard: Maycee James 21, Lauryn Gordon 8, Marayah Coleman 5, Reece Albin 4, Bailey Scoggin 2.