Merrol Hyde Magnet sophomore Emily Fenton dribbles upcourt.
HENDERSONVILLE The Merrol Hyde Magnet girls prep basketball team isn’t looking far to gain motivation.
They just wait around after their game is complete.
The Lady Hawks were held scoreless for nearly three quarters, suffering a 39-4 loss to to visiting Clarksville Academy on Tuesday night.
Merrol Hyde Magnet (0-2) played a junior-varsity schedule last year and only fields seven players for a varsity squad.
However, the Lady Hawks look to the school’s boys squad to see what they could be with effort and determination.
Merrol Hyde Magnet freshman Kendall Frisbee scored her squad’s only field goal in Tuesday evening’s loss to visiting Clarksville Academy.
“The boys team was in a spot like we were in five years ago or so,” Merrol Hyde Magnet first-year head coach Kelley Graham said. “They had a group of freshmen that came in, and they rode those kids and gained some other pieces. By the end, they were pretty good and have kept it going.
“Most of these girls weren’t even on the junior-varsity team last year, and we have four freshmen who came up from the middle-school team playing for us. I only took over a month ago, so right now, they’re still learning the plays, where to go and what to do.”
Clarksville Academy guard Charlton Kelley scored 10 of her team’s first 16 points as the Cougars ran out to a 25-0 lead at halftime.
Clarksville Academy (1-2) extended it to 37-0 before a pair of free throws from Grace Riley gave Merrol Hyde its first points of the game with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Kendall Frisbee’s layup with 1:40 remaining in the contest accounted for the Lady Hawks’ only field goal.
“We’re trying to keep the girls confident, and that’s been a problem,” Graham said. “We’re looking at the long term with the guys setting that example a few years back.
“Improvements is all we’re looking for. The other night against DCA (Donelson Christian Academy), we only had five rebounds as a team, and tonight we got 25 with Lauren Buchanen leading us with nine rebounds. Those are the things we’re looking at right now.”
Merrol Hyde Magnet freshman Kendall Frisbee scored her squad’s only field goal in Tuesday evening’s loss to visiting Clarksville Academy.
Merrol Hyde limited Clarksville Academy to 1-of-13 shooting over the final 12 minutes of play.
“Being physical has been tough, but I felt like Kendall and Lauren really flexed some muscle in the second half and held their own physically,” Graham said. “We got better throughout the game.”
Merrol Hyde Magnet will be in action again on Monday, hosting Aaron Academy.
CLARKSVILLE ACADEMY (39) – Charlton Kelley 17, Presleigh Sykes 8, Abbey Hogan 6, Morgan Crowley 4, Aleisha Whitaker 4.
MERROL HYDE MAGNET (4) – Kendall Frisbee 2, Grace Riley 2.
Half: 25-0, Clarksville Academy. Three-point goals: Clarksville Academy 2 (Kelley 2), Merrol Hyde Magnet 0. Records: Clarksville Academy 1-2, Merrol Hyde Magnet 0-2.