By Bret Bevens
PDT Sports Writer

MINFORD - In their first game at home under new head coach Mark Chaney, the Minford Lady Falcons defeated the defending SOC II champion South Webster Lady Jeeps 59-49 on Monday.

Minford forced 32 South Webster turnovers and knocked down 13 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter to put away the Lady Jeeps.

"Give Minford all the credit, they did a great job," South Webster head coach Kristie Johnson said. "We just panicked, we didn't take care of things. We've been working on that. We're not going to be able to beat good teams with 32 turnovers. It just something we have to work on."

The win takes Minford to 3-2 and 2-2 in the conference. The loss drops South Webster to 3-2 and 2-2 in the SOC II.

"We've been stressing in practice teamwork and rotating the ball well,"Minford head coach Mark Chaney said. "And I think that is what we did tonight. Hats off to Abby Donahoe she did a great job (guarding) Cook."

Leading the way for the Lady Falcons was Breslyn Harris who tied a game-high with 20 points, 12 coming from downtown. Whitney McManus chipped in with 19 points, 17 coming after the break. McManus knocked down 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch to help deliver the victory.

"At the beginning we were all nervous," McManus said. "But Breslyn is a great player and all week all we've been working on is team ball. Work the ball 'til you get the open look. The open look was Breslyn in the first half. South Webster started to key on her and that got me open in the second half. We play well as a team together."

South Webster was led by Kayla Cook who recorded a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Erin Sherman also had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

With 6:00 left in the third quarter South Webster was nursing a one-point lead. Kelli Martin then drilled a three with 5:38 left in the third period to give the Lady Falcons a two-point edge.

The Lady Jeeps were not going away quietly as they fought back and knotted the game as 27 apiece. McManus had the answer for Minford. A personal 6-0 scoring spree put the Lady Falcons back out in front by six, a lead they would take into the final stanza.

"We worked the ball around and got open looks," Chaney said. "I don't know what Harris and McManus ended up with but they were good open shots and that is what we have been stressing."

Opening the fourth period, Sherman cut the lead to four with 7:42 to go in the game. The Lady Jeeps made a push and had the lead down to three with 5:45 left in the contest. But that would be as close as South Webster would come. Minford got fourth quarter contributions from Harris, McManus, Abby Donahoe, Kendra Justice and Autumn Walke to seal the deal.

South Webster hosts Wheelersburg Thursday. Minford travels to Northwest Thursday.

BRET BEVENS can be reached at (740)-353-3101 ext. 242

South Webster 8 13 10 18 - 49

Minford 13 7 17 22 - 59

South Webster - Blanton 1 0 2, Hadsell 1 0 2, Clark 1 0 2, Queen 3 0 7, Sherman 6 1 13, Cook 7 4 20, Montgomery 0 3 3; Totals: 19 8 49.

Minford - McManus 5 9 19, Martin 1 1 4, Donahoe 0 1 1, Justice 2 4 9, Walke 1 4 6, Harris 8 1 20; Totals 17 20 59.

3-pointers - South Webster 3 (Cook 2, Queen); Minford 6 (Harris 4, Martin, Justice)

Record - South Webster 3-2 (2-2); Minford 3-2 (2-2)