UV and S-E earn victories against conference foes

MORRIS – Oxford out scored South Kortright 14-9 in the second quarter to take a two point lead into the break. From there, the Blackhawks held on to top the Lady Rams 49-40 in the first round of the Joan Martin Tournament, hosted by Morris, Thursday evening.

“This win was a great team win by the girls,” said Oxford’s head coach Chris Palmer. “We have been battling all kinds of issues, between illness and injuries to foul trouble, but the girls really came together and played well. That is something you have to do in order to beat a team of South Kortright’s caliber. They may be a Class D school but they have history and are a tough opponent year-in and year-out.”

The Blackhawks trailed by three points following the first quarter as both teams started the game off with a slow start. During Oxford’s second stanza run that gave them the lead and the eventual win, Olivia Kelsey and Madalyn Barrows stepped up, scoring most of their points.

Both Kelsey and Barrows finished the game with 12 points each and Barrows ended the night with a double-double as she pulled down 10 rebounds.

All 12 of Kelsey’s points were bench points, where Oxford held a giant advantage in as South Kortright’s substitutes scored nine.

Ellie Ryan and Emma Hodge tallied seven apiece and colleagues Karley Miller and Jada Albin scored five.