Head coaches fret over rivalry games.
Rivalries inspire underdogs, and inspired underdogs can pull upsets.
So, Kenny Osborne fretted before the Concord Women's Basketball team tipped off its meeting with intra-county rival Bluefield State Monday night.
“I coached over here, and for Bluefield State, this is a big game,” said Osborne, who began his head coaching career with a season at BSC before moving on to take charge of the Concord program ten years ago. “I'm sure they'll play with more passion and more excitement tonight. So I hope we just get off to a good start and let things fall where they may.”
Concord started well enough and had the lead for the entire game, but Bluefield State didn't fall easily. The Lady Lions needed a late rally to secure a 64-42 victory at BSC's Ned Shott Gymnasium.
Concord's third straight win lifted their record to 10-3, 7-1 in the WVIAC, and kept the Lady Lions in the league lead. Bluefield State dropped to 1-13, 1-8, and 15th place.
Concord scored the game's first ten points (six from Sierra Brown) and took a 31-19 lead into halftime. The Lady Lions would go up by as many as 17 points early in the second half before the Lady Blues began a comeback.
A three-point shot by Angelica Kimbrough capped a 7-0 rally and drew BSC within 49-42 with 5:42 left. But, with the home crowd at full volume, Concord's Kristin Kidd made a three-pointer of her own (only her second of the season), which put the Lady Lions ahead by 10 and triggered a 15-0 rally to close out the game.
Two free throws each from Camisha Alexander and Jolysa Brown, and a layup by Kidd, extended the lead to 58-42 with 2:56 left. On Concord's next trip, Holly Bibb sank a three-pointer to put the Lady Lions up 19 points and erase any doubt.
Alexander topped the Lady Lions with 20 points. Sierra Brown finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jolysa Brown recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Kidd would add nine points and five rebounds.
Charlene Diggs led Bluefield State with 20 points, on 4-20 shooting.
Concord shot .389 from the field (21-54), but limited the Lady Blues to just .206 (14-68). The Lady Lions outrebounded Bluefield State 55-34 and went 16-20 (.800) from the free throw line.
Concord will visit high-scoring Glenville State in a matchup of the WVIAC's two top teams Thursday night. The game will be broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and webcast at www.theriver102.com starting at 5:30 pm EST. Tip-off at Lilly Gymnasium is scheduled for 5:30.
