It’s cliche at this point, but when it’s a rivalry clash between Madison County and William Monroe you really can throw out the records. It’s a true border war.
Monroe’s girls basketball team defeated rival Madison County 51-40 on Friday night with freshman Sam Brunelle leading the Dragons with 14 points on the night despite early foul trouble.
Madison County contained Brunelle early in the first quarter with a zone, limiting Brunelle’s touches. On the other side of the ball, three-pointers by Makenna Santinga and Zoe Graves gave Madison a hopeful start.
William Monroe’s coach Jesse Stafford countered the quick Madison start with a full-court press, shifting the momentum with multiple fastbreak points for the Dragons.
However, late in the first quarter Brunelle dropped to the floor after a loose ball knocking her head against the hardwood. Brunelle walked off the court on her own and returned briefly in the second quarter.
“People on the outside looking in focus on Samantha and say ‘she’s all they’ve got.’ which is untrue,” Stafford said. “We have 15 highly capable girls and she’s one of them.”
With Brunelle on the bench the game became more and more physical and fouls stacked up on both teams. Dajour Strother stepped up during that period and throughout the game with 13 rebounds to go with her nine points. Makayla Morris chipped in eight points and Emma Pickett finished with seven. There were more than 20 fouls between the two teams in the first half. However, at the break Monroe led Madison 25-17.
William Monroe’s defense proved too tall for Madison County, holding the Mountaineers to four points in the third quarter. Brunelle put up six points in the third quarter to extend the Dragons’ lead 37-21.
Madison County’s Makayla Taylor exploded in the fourth quarter for 13 points, leading a late effort by the Mountaineers. Despite the late surge, the Dragons closed off the game to take the victory.
“Madison came in and played a very physical game. I feel like their gameplan was to beat us up and they did that, Stafford said. “I was proud of my kids for staying mentally strong through that.”
