There’s a saying in sports that says, “Offense wins games, Defense wins championships.”
Well, if the Manchester Lady Mavericks continue to play on both ends of the floor the way they did last week against rival Benton Academy, more games in the win column are definitely on the way, and the potential for back-to-back state championships is not out of the question.
The Lady Mavs smothered the Lady Raiders from the opening tip to the final buzzer in a 43-20 victory.
Manchester nearly held Benton scoreless for the first half of action, outscoring them 13-0 in the first quarter and 11-2 in the second to lead comfortably 24-2 at halftime.
MA guards Anna Ellison, Sydney Porter and Lindsey Carpenter made it virtually impossible for Benton’s guards to get the ball past halfcourt on many possessions, much less initiate their offense when they did cross halfcourt.
When and if the Lady Raiders were fortunate to get the ball inside the paint, rim protector Karley Martin was often there to either contest a shot or swat it away altogether.
The Lady Mavs picked up where they left off in the third quarter, outscoring Benton 12-4.
Benton’s Ella McCain knocked down two three- pointers and Brynn Blackstock drained one in the final frame to lead the Lady Raiders to a 14-7 quarter advantage, but the damage was already done.
When she wasn’t wreaking havoc defensively, Manchester’s Carpenter was torching the nets to the tune of a game-high 20 points.
Martin was right behind with 10, Presley Trammell had eight, Ellison had four and Porter one.
McCain scored eight to lead Benton followed by Blackstock with five, Kay Louise Purvis with four, Sunny Sellers with two and Sarah Bailey Jackson with one.
