Lady Dawgs roll past Smithies, fall to Golden Bears
Dalton freshman Addesa Miller drives down the court in a game against Waynedale on Saturday. PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
Dalton’s Sarah Witmer, and Tess Denning against Waynedale on Saturday. PHOTOS BY LISA McGINTY | LMc Photography
Dalton’s Mia Weaver Jan. 21 against Smithville. The Lady Dawgs won 52-10. PHOTO BY AMBER DOTY
By ARIEL STAHLER
Gazette & News sports writer
Dalton High School’s varsity girls basketball team started off the week by handing Smithville a 42-point defeat. The Lady Dawgs later ran into trouble against Waynedale and fell to the Golden Bears.
Dalton meant business when it took the court at Smithville Jan. 21. The Lady Dawgs went after the Smithies and left with a 52-10 victory. Dalton outscored Smithville 16-2 in the first quarter and piled on another 16 points before halftime, while Smithville’s only basket in the second quarter came from a lone free throw. The Lady Dawgs did not let up in the second half. They held the Smithies scoreless in the third quarter. Smithville outscored Dalton 7-3 in the final quarter, but it was not enough to overcome the lead Dalton had built earlier in the game.
“We had a nice team win against Smithville,” said Dalton’s head coach Katie Miller. “It was a good bounce back win from our last loss at home versus Norwayne, where we felt we could have played a much better game.”
Mia Weaver guided Dalton with 12 points, four rebounds and eight assists. Tess Denning showed her offensive and defensive skills with 11 points, eight rebounds and one assist. Addesa Miller totaled eight points, four rebounds and one assist. Ella Lunsford ended with six points, one board and three assists. Sarah Witmer contributed four points. Dalton’s JV team topped Smithville 46-19. Piper Cannon led with 18 points and Kylee Johnson had 16 points.
The Lady Dawgs fought hard against Waynedale in the final quarter of their home game Jan. 23, but they could not secure the victory. The Golden Bears left with a 61-46 win.
“We cut the lead several times to five midway through the fourth quarter,” Katie Miller said. “Once, we got it to four, but could never get a score or stop to allow us to get closer. A slow start to the game forced us to play from behind the entire game. We had opportunities, but will continue to work on areas of weakness in practice. Our next six games, we look to continue to improve.”
Denning earned a double-double with 15 rebounds and 12 points. Weaver also scored 12 points, along with one board and one assist.
“Tess and Mia really stepped up this week in both of our games,” Katie Miller said.
Addesa Miller finished with 14 points, three rebounds and one assist. Lunsford put up eight points, grabbed five rebounds and passed four assists.
