CASEY HINDMAN
Saturday, January 23, 2010 3:26 am

JAMESTOWN — The Lions and Lionettes made the long trip here Friday night for a district match up against the York Dragons and Lady Dragons.

The two-hour drive made the Lionettes sluggish as they started the game having a hard time finding the bottom of the net. The Lionettes fell behind, but tied the score at 2-2 at the 7:10 mark on a Lauren Ruehlen basket. Cannon was outscored, 10-2, for the remainder of the quarter falling behind 12-4.

The Lionettes fought back in the second quarter shooting 60% from the field cutting the lead to 6 at the 3:30 mark on a Sissom basket, and with two Sissom 3-point baskets, tied the score at 16-16 with 2:25 remaining. York ended the quarter with a 6-2 run over the Lionettes taking a 22-18 lead into the half.

Sissom opened the third quarter with another 3-point basket cutting the York lead to 1, 22-21. The Lady Dragons answered with a 9-2 run pulling ahead 31-23 at the 4:10 mark. Cannon fought back with scoring by Ruehlen, Sissom, and Erica Melton cutting the York lead to 36-34 at the end of the third.

A Ruehlen basket opened the fourth quarter, tying the score at 36-36. York took the lead, 41-39, with 5:47 remaining. Two foul shots by Ashley Campbell and a 2-point basket by Sissom put the Lionettes ahead 42-41 at the 5:10 mark. Sissom ended the quarter scoring the last 8 points to preserve the 48-44 district win. The Lionettes improved their record to 18-1, 5-1 district.

SCORING: Emily Sissom 21 points; Lauren Ruehlen 11; Chelsey Payne 5; Erica Melton 3; Ashley Campbell 2; Lindsey Reed 2; Taylor King 2; Shelby Jordan 2.

The Lions had a difficult time finding the range in the first quarter shooting under 30%. A strong defensive effort kept the Lions ahead most of the quarter holding an 8-4 lead at the 3:50 mark. There was a defensive breakdown over the last 2:00 allowing the Dragons to score 7 straight points to end the first quarter leading 11-8.

The Lions continued to have difficulty scoring again shooting only 30% for the quarter. York had several fast break opportunities leading to easy baskets which allowed them to take a 12-point lead, 22-10, at the 4:00 mark. Cannon was unable to cut into the lead as they went into the half trailing 26-14.

Shooting woes followed the Lions into the third quarter, scoring only 3 points in the first 4:00. Cannon found themselves trailing 35-17. The highlight of the quarter was a Jared Nave 3-point basket at the buzzer that cut the Dragon lead to 41-35.

The Lions finally found the range in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late. Cannon put up 30 points with Justin Davenport scoring 17 of his team high 19 points. The Lions cut the lead to 8 on two different occasions, but that was as close as they could get falling to the Dragons, 67-55. The loss drops the Lions record to 12-7, 2-3 district.

SCORING: Justin Davenport 19 points; Cody Ruehlen 12; Jared Nave 11; Andrew Woodin 6; Colin Jones 5; Ethan Womack 2.