Dylan Chambers/Section 618 student correspondent
Darren Kinnard

VIENNA — The Massac Lady Patriots started off the new year with a 56-44 win at Vienna Monday night.

Massac County’s Madie Coakley and Tayvia Bailey combined for the game’s first five points before Emma Rush and Emme Treat combined for six straight points to give the Lady Eagles their first lead of the night. The Lady Patriots broke an 8-8 tie with a 6-0 run thanks to four steals in a row. Rush put an end to the run with a basket, but the Lady Patriots led 14-10 after one quarter.

Coming off the bench Autumn Russell, Sophie Bormann, Cali McCraw all contributed to Massac County extending the lead to ten in the second quarter. Rush buried multiple three-pointers to help pull the Lady Eagles within six. Rush scored a game high 25 points on the night.

The Lady Patriots led 28-20 at the half and blew the game open with a huge third quarter outscoring the Lady Eagles 20-9 to lead 48-29 heading to the fourth. Camryn McBride and Bormann did much of the damage. Bormann finished with a team high 17 points. McBride also reached double figures with ten.

Vienna outscored Massac County 15-8 in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Patriots went on to win by 12. They improve to 8-7 and will return to River to River-Ohio play Thursday night at Benton. The Lady Eagles fall to 10-7. They will host Anna-Jonesboro in another non-conference match up Wednesday night.