FRANKLIN FURNACE – This time the Green Lady Bobcats couldn’t come up with any more surprises.

Thursday, February 08, 2001

FRANKLIN FURNACE – This time the Green Lady Bobcats couldn’t come up with any more surprises.

A surprise co-leader in the Southern Ohio Conference Division I race, Green met the Portsmouth East Lady Tartans Wednesday in a showdown for the league title.

But Green couldn’t surprise East as the Lady Tartans held on for a 48-40 win to claim the SOC title.

"I told the girls we’re won 10 games so far and we can finish second in the league. That’s a pretty good season," Green coach Melissa Knapp said.

Sarah Conley had 17 points and Heather Grooms 12 to lead East which finished 9-1 in the SOC.

Jennifer Cline poured in 27 points in a losing effort while Megan Tackett added nine.

"We weren’t hitting anything. We had a lot of defensive breakdowns, and when that happens it’s hard to win," said Knapp. "The girls did the best they could, it just wasn’t meant to be I guess."

Cline and Conley matched each other with six points but East moved out to a 14-7 first quarter lead.

Groom and Conley scored five apiece the second quarter as East pulled away to a 24

Grooms 10 the first half (5 5)12 halftime lead.

Cline came back with eight the third quarter as Green got within 33-24 and she scored eight more the fourth quarter, but Conley had seven points to prevent the comeback.

Portsmouth East 14 10 9 15 – 48

Green 7 5 12 16 – 40

PORTSMOUTH EAST (9-1): Sarah Conley 8 0 1-1 17, Jessica Mullins 2 1 2-3 9, Tracy Marsh 1 0 1-2 3, Sarah Flannery 1 0 3-6 5, Heather Grooms 3 2 0-0 12, Willis 1 0-0 2. Totals: 16 3 7-12 48. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

GREEN (10-7, 8-2): Jennifer Cline 12 0 3-6 27, Meagan Pierce 1 0 0-2 2, Samantha Jenkins 0 0 1-2 1, Christina Culver 0 0 1-3 1, Megan Tackett 1 1 4-6 9, Emily Horsley 0 0 0-0 0, Amber Spears 0 0 0-0 0, Jessica Mollette 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 1 9-19 40. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: None.