Stafford leads Geneva County past Fruitdale

By: Cassandra McAboy | Mobile Press-Register
Published: February 21, 2012

MOBILE – On a normal Tuesday around noon, Lacy Stafford would be turning the pages of her English book.

This week, the eighth grader was celebrating Fat Tuesday in style, leading the Lady Bulldogs of Geneva County to a 53-49 win over Fruitdale in Class 1A South Region basketball action.

Stafford scored a team high 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the group advanced to face the Lady Demons of McIntosh Friday morning at 10 a.m.

Walking around with a basketball in her hands as far as she can remember, the 5-foot-6 guard has averaged 20 points throughout the season and has been exactly what the team has needed.

“Lacy transferred in late and we weren’t sure if we’d have her or not this season,” Geneva County head coach Chris Ward said. “She’s averaging 20 points a game and has been clutch for us all season. She has definitely been a blessing.”

Geneva County led 12-6 at the end of the first quarter. Stafford scored eight points in the second quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers to put the Lady Bulldogs up by seven at the break.

The Lady Bulldogs built their biggest lead of the game at the 1:55 mark of the third period when they went up by 14, but Fruitdale would put together a late rally to get within four.

Outscoring Geneva County 11-4, back-to-back buckets from Beneather Manuel, who ended with a game-high 25 points, including 18 in the second half, sealed the run and cut the score to 49-45 with 1:45 remaining.

Up by four late during a regular season game, the Lady Bulldogs lost that game, but Ward had his team prepared this time around.

“We knew if we didn’t want a repeat of that game we’d have to control and protect the basketball,” Ward said.

Fruitdale held Stafford to only two field goals in the second half but teammates Bridgett Williams and Paige Crutchfield picked up the slack and scored several key baskets during the Lady Pirates run.

“We knew about Stafford coming into the game. We were prepared to try to contain her. We were able to do that in the second half but then Williams hurt us; we weren’t prepared for her,” Fruitdale head coach Dale Kimble said. “We should have been better prepared; that’s my fault.”

Geneva County’s Crutchfield finished the game with 17 followed by a 8-point performance by Williams.

Tosha Boykin joined Manuel in double figures for Fruitdale with 13 and the Lady Pirates ended the season at 20-7.