Ainsleigh Truitt scored 13 points against Canton on Thursday, November 2, 2023. Photograph by Mark Requet
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The South Shelby Middle School Lady Birds defeated the Canton Lady Tigers 54-8 last Thursday night in the opening game of the season.
The Lady Birds jumped out quick, scoring 21 points in the first quarter, thanks to great defense and easy transition buckets. Kenzie Wilt kept the scoring going in the second quarter with six points to push the halftime lead to 33-6.
The second half saw Ainsleigh Truitt score 10 of South Shelby’s 19 points in the third quarter to help the Lady Birds build a 52-6 lead after three quarters.
The benches cleared in the fourth quarter, as everyone saw some playing time.
“The ladies played hard, ran the floor in transition, and shared the basketball,” said South Shelby Coach Kevin Mitchell. “Loved to see them helping each other and playing for one another. That’s how good teams become great teams.
The Lady Birds were led in scoring by Truitt with 13, Zairi Vanskike-Hardy with 12, followed by Wilt with 10, Gracynn Lanpher with seven, and Blakely VanDyke with six. Rounding out the scoring for South Shelby was Avery Gough, Lora Roush and Ellie Kuntz with two points each.
Leading South Shelby in rebounding were Lanpher with seven and Vanskike-Hardy with four.
The Lady Birds were led in steals by Gough, Lanpher and VanDyke with six a piece, followed by Wilt with five.
