By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The Ariton Lady Cats travelled to take on the Straughn Tigers Thursday night, and both teams ferocity and strength was on full display.
Straugn got off to an early and large lead. Ariton mounted an impressive comeback attempt with the team trimming a 25-point deficit down to just five before ultimately falling to Straughn, 48–43
Despite the loss, Head Coach Bridget Whitehurst praised her team’s resilience, noting it was a true “total team effort.” She added that the group is embracing major adjustments under a new coaching system, explaining, “We have been working on a lot of new things for this team and it’s been a little frustrating for a new coach to come in and change up everything, but the girls are working hard.” Whitehurst said Thursday’s performance was the first time his players showed “no signs of frustration” and stayed fully focused on their goals.
The Lady Cats’ surge was fueled by standout performances across the lineup, with AC Free leading the charge. Free finished with a dominant double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 16 rebounds to spark Ariton’s second-half rally.
KJ Woodfaulk added 10 points and showcased her defensive instincts with six steals, while Madolyn Hudson chipped in 5 points and grabbed an impressive 13 rebounds. Ayari McCloud contributed 5 points and 4 steals, helping the Lady Cats apply pressure defensively as they clawed back into the game.
Macileigh Bragg provided key minutes with 2 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals, and Lizzy Woodfaulk added 1 point to round out the scoring.
Whitehurst said the team will use the game as a building block, noting, “We will build off of this game and hopefully continue to reach each goal set for each game until we are molded into the team we have our minds set to be.” Though the comeback fell just short, the Lady Cats’ fight on the road underscored their toughness and growing team identity as they continue to improve.
The Lady Cats will next face off against the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots on Saturday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m.
