Northside coach Rickey Smith isn’t going to pout over a 5-3 start to the basketball season.

But he did admit his players were a little shell-shocked after dropping their second straight game Saturday at the Taco Bell Tournament of Champions.

Greenwood’s Alley Shockey came off the bench and scored 26 points in the Bulldogs’ 71-60 victory.

It wasn’t close, either.

“We’ve been busted in the mouth a couple of times and we didn’t like it,” Smith said. “But we’ll do what good teams do, hopefully, and get better.”

Smith said the Lady Bears (5-3) will get another shot at Greenwood (7-2) on Jan. 4.

The Lady Bulldogs scored the game’s first five points Friday, led 14-9 at one point, and charged in front 34-29 at the half.

Greenwood trailed only briefly (35-34) in the third quarter before going ahead for good on back-to-back 3-pointers by Jaelin Glass and Shea Goodwin.

“Our kids competed hard,” Greenwood coach Clay Reeves said. “I know us and Northside both had very tough games yesterday. Both of our kids bounced back and played hard tonight.”

Greenwood held explosive Jersey Wolfenberger to nine points on 2-of-13 shooting.

“She’s one of the best players in the country,” Reeves said. “She got some open looks, but fortunately some of those didn’t go in. I’m happy for our team to come back and compete after last night’s game.”

The Lady Bulldogs lost to Shawnee Mission (Kansas) Bishop Miege Friday, 92-56.

Less than 24 hours later, they were as determined as ever.

Kinley Fisher scored seven early points and finished with 18. Alley Sockey took the lead from there.

“Kinley usually does start off really good,” Reeves said. “She seems to have a very good scoring night for us every night, which is good for us. But we always have other people that step up and have big nights and score, and I think that’s one our team strengths.


“We have so many people that can score and share the ball really well.”

Goodwin, Fisher and Sockey opened the fourth quarter with baskets, helping Greenwood extend its lead to 54-43.

Sockey’s three-point effort with 4:28 pushed Greenwood’s lead to 14 (57-43), and Glass made it 62-47 with another trey from the left wing.

“We’ve played a really, really good schedule,” Smith said. “We’ve played as good of a team as you’ll see in their (Greenwood) classification. We get a chance to play Greenwood in about three weeks. Hopefully we’ll continue to work hard and improve.”
