Dragons win both at Lex

Purcell picked up a pair of key road victories last week at Lexington.

Coach David Sikes’ Dragons upset No. 12 Lexington, 49-45, with Alicia Baker and Kora Keith posting double-doubles.

Baker cut the strings for 21 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and added six assists to lead Purcell.

Keith singed the strings for 16 points and pulled 10 boards.

“It was a fun game,” Sikes said. “Both teams played so hard on both ends of the floor.

“They are a good team and for us to beat them on their floor took guts,” he continued.

The Dragons shot out of the gate building a 32-18 advantage at halftime.

Lexington roared back in the third quarter, slicing the 14 point deficit to five at the end of the period.

Both teams cooled off on the offensive end in the fourth quarter with Purcell holding on for the four point win.

“I was proud of the fight my girls showed down the stretch. We stayed composed and held off their run.”

Sikes said one person on his squad that didn’t make the stat sheet but was a key cog in the victory was senior Chelsea Spain.

“Without her we don’t win the game,” Sikes bluntly said. “She played lights out on the defensive end. All she cares about is the win.”

The Dragons followed up that victory with a hard fought 35-29 loss against Marlow last Friday night in the 2020 homecoming tilt.

Purcell led by a pair going into the fourth quarter when the game heated up but were out-scored by the Lady Outlaws 14-6 in the final period.

Baker had a dozen points in the game to lead all scorers but had to sit a lot due to foul problems.

Purcell was 7-5 heading into their road trip to Washington Tuesday.

Led by the one-two punch of Gavin Nation and Mojo Browning, Purcell downed the Bulldogs, 53-44.

Nation sizzled with 20 points while Browning was nipping on his heels cutting the nylons for 17 points.

Nation drained four treys in the contest.

Purcell zoomed off to a fast start out-scoring the ‘Dawgs 15-5 in the opening period.

Lexington closed the gap in the second frame with Purcell taking a 26-19 lead into the halftime locker room.

A strong four period for Purcell preserved the victory.

“Any win is a good win,” head coach Roger Raper said. “Winning on the road is always tough so I am proud of our guys for getting the victory.

“Lexington played hard and their size is tough to deal with, especially with our lack of size.

“We didn’t play great but were able to get the win,” the coach said.

Purcell backed up that victory with an exciting 45-41 overtime victory over Marlow last Friday night.

Neither team lit up the scoreboard with the end of regulation knotted at 34 all in a very defensive struggle.

But thanks to some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch Purcell pulled away in the overtime period 11-7.

Browning and Nation were both in double figures with Browning leading all scorers with 20 points. Nation finished with 11.

Purcell was 10-2 heading into Tuesday trip to Washington.