Shaday Woodcock puts up 14 points in the 4^th period

Dunwoody High School – Dunwoody, GA

Woodcock heats up!!!!

Avondale Lady Devils brought their Big Three into Dunwoody High School to start their season off with a win.  The Lady Wildcats posed much more of a threat than anticipated and would force things to go down to the wire.

Both teams came out with some back and forth action in the first period.  The tone was set and the Lady Devils could sense that Dunwoody was not rolling over in this one.  Second period action begins with Avondale nursing a three point lead and showing some defensive pressure on the perimeter.  The Lady Devils hoped their pressure defense would spark some fastbreak points. 

Instead, the Lady Wildcats holdfast and are able to combat the Avondale press.  Forward Chenise Lazenby drains a three to give Dunwoody the lead 19-17 with 5:20 remaining in the second period.  Dunwoody was able to extend their lead to six points at the end of the half, 27-21.

Avondale tried to alter their strategy to open the second half by slowing the pace of the game.  The Lady Devils tried to run a few offensive plays but that didn’t seem to affect the Lady Wildcats.  Up 29-27, Dunwoody went on an 8-0 run to build their lead up to 10 points with 5:11 left in the third over the favored Lady Devils.  Avondale cut into the lead by three to end the third period down by seven, 44-37. 

Paige Davidson helped Dunwoody hold off two runs by Avondale with some timely scoring to keep a safe lead going into the third quarter.  The Lady Devils looked dejected, down, and disappointed.  The Big Three had yet to show, but there was one more period of play left.

Davidson kept the Lady Wildcats in the game.

Avondale started the fourth period of with a 8-2 run to narrow the margin to one, and back and forth action ensued.  Two-thirds of the Big Three helped give the Lady Devils its first lead since early second period action.  Nicole Stroud stole an inbound pass and started off the break with a leak out pass to Angelica Mealey.  Mealey then found Jenae Thomas under the basket for an easy two.  A string of turnovers didn't help the Lady Wildcats keep their lead either.

Stroud comes up with a big block in the fourth period.

The Lady Devils tried not to look back the Dunwoody was right on their tails.  Stroud came up big with some key defensive play down on the blocks and Shaday Woodcock took care of things on the offensive end.  But with under a minute left to play, Monique Cobb comes up with a big block to spark a Lady Wildcats fast break, and finds Jasmine Wood for lay up that gives Dunwoody a two-point lead.

The Lady Devils quickly answer with a game-tying basket by Jasmine Hall with :26 left in the game, forcing Dunwoody to tap the shoulders for a 20 second time out.  Out of the timeout, Woodcock picks off a pass and puts Avondale up by two as the time winds down.  Mealey then seals the deal with another steal and an easy assist to Rene Thomas to give the Lady Devils a 60-56 victory. 

Avondale was able to squeak by Dunwoody and get away with a win.  But in order to live up to their billing, the Big Three will have to step up.  But hey, there’s a long season ahead.  Get ready.

Scoring Recap

Avondale: 

Shaday Woodcock had a game high 24 points.  Angelica Mealey finished with 16 points, and Nicole Stroud added six points along with six blocks. 

Dunwoody:

Paige Davidson led Dunwoody with 17 points, while Elizabeth Heiman and Briana Payne chipped in 11 and 8 points respectively.