Cannon ladies cruise to Fla. win

SANDESTIN, Fla. - It didn’t take long for Cannon County to make a statement during the 18th Hilton Sandestin Beach Blowout Tournament.

The Lionettes won three games in convincing fashion, including a 68-33 troucning of Ponce de Leon, ending its 38-game winning streak, in the championship game.

Cannon County secured a 70-28 win against Paxton (Fla.) in the semifinals and knocked out Walton (Fla.), 83-51, in an opening-round game.

Junior standout Abbey Sissom was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after 23 points in the three games played. Sissom scored 27 in the opener, 22 in the semifinals and 21 in the championship game.

Senior sharpshooter Abby Jakes earned All-Tournament honors. Jakes poured in 21 in the championship game.

“The girls were really focused throughout the trip,” Cannon County Head Coach Michael Dodgen said. “We played very well defensively throughout the tournament and that created a lot of transition scoring for us.”

The Lionettes jumped out to a 22-10 lead on Ponce de Leon in the championship and built the lead to 44-17 by halftime. In addition to Sissom and Jakes with 21, Rebekah Faulkner finished with nine points and nine rebounds; Madison Walkup had seven points and eight rebounds; and Emily Pemberton and Ashley Basham combined for 11 rebounds.

The Lionettes jumped on top of Paxton 18-0 and never looked back on the way to a 70-28 triumph.

Sissom was the only player in double figures with 22, but Walkup and Faulkner added nine each and Basham finished with six points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

Sissom’s 27 led the Lionettes to an 83-51 win against Walton. Walkup finished with 12; Jakes added 11, Faulkner added nine and Jordan Hollis finished with seven.