Kouns steps up with 19 points to key Lady Devils win over Raceland

FLATWOODS — Trying to overcome a sluggish start, Russell got a spark of confidence from Kenley Kouns on Saturday night to help the Lady Red Devils get rolling on offense and earn a 59-37 win over the Raceland Lady Rams at Marvin Meredith Gymnasium.

"I just think confidence wise that if we're playing really well and the confidence is there, then our scoring goes well. But if we miss a few shots, we get our head down and try to do too much," said Russell coach Mandy Layne. "But I'm proud of them in the second half and how they stood up."

Kouns topped all scorers on the night with 19 points, 6 rebounds and a pair of assists. Kennedy Darnell overcame early foul trouble to finish with 15 points, 3 steals and 2 assists. Gabby Oborne had 10 points, 4 assists and 2 steals.

The Lady Devils struggled in the early going of the game trying to get shots to fall. To make matters worse, Darnell — who's one the team's top scorers — found herself with two quick fouls in the first and had to sit out for long stints of the half.

Raceland took advantage of Russell's struggles on the offensive end and worked their way out to a 7-4 lead with Naomi Maynard scoring all of the Lady Rams' points in the quarter.

Needing someone to get things going, Kouns stepped up and the 8th grader scored 7-straight points to help give Russell their first lead of the game and get the offense rolling.

Along with a 3-point play and another basket from Kouns, Oborne sank a pair of free throws and Mia Troxler sank one of her own to help Russell close out the first with an 8-0 to lead Raceland 12-7.

Russell widened its lead to 19-9 midway through the second when Kouns knocked down a turnaround jumper from the top of the lane.

Naomi Maynard found herself on the bench with 3 fouls with 4 minutes left in the half, and took the Lady Rams top scorer off the court.

However, Raceland got some needed help from their bench in the latter stages of the second, getting a runout layup by Karsyn Caudill, a layup in traffic by Aubrey Terry and Addi Thornburg sinking 3 free throws.

Thornburg's free throws got the Lady Rams back within 7 with just 7 seconds remaining.

However, Oborne quickly pushed the inbounds pass up the floor and found Prezley Price in the corner and the sophomore nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Russell a 28-18 lead at the break.

Layne gave credit to Raceland as they were able to execute their game plan, especially in the first half.

"They just shrank the floor on us. They did a really good job of taking away the middle and we stepped up and hit some outside shots to force them to come out and defend us."

The Lady Devils were able hit 5 shots from behind the arc in the second half and start stretch the Lady Rams defense, as well as their lead.

During the third, Lily Ervin, Oborne and Kouns all buried triples and Darnell scored twice from the field to help Russell outscore Raceland 15-13 in the frame and hold a 43-31 lead going into the fourth.

Darnell made her impact in the fourth with 2 field goals and a pair of foul shots to help the Lady Devils pull away. Kouns had two more baskets in the period, including her second trey of the game. Ervin hit from downtown and both Karson Hale and Mia Troxler each had a bucket to help round out the scoring for Russell.

Raceland 7   11   13    6  =  37

Russell 12  16   15   16  =  59

RACELAND (7-9, 1-1): Sophia Maynard 0 0 1-2 1, Braylee Truell 0 0 0-0 0, Annie Lyon 4 0 0-0 8, Sydney Chambers 3 0 1-2 7, Naomi Maynard 2 2 4-4 14, Karsyn Caudill 1 0 0-0 2, Addison Thornburg 0 0 3-3 3, Aubrey Terry 1 0 0-0 2, Nessa Wright 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 11 2 9-11 37. Rebounds: (O-6, D-10) 16. (Truell 4, Lyon 3, N. Maynard 3). Assists: 4 (N. Maynard 2). Steals: 9 (S. Maynard 2, Lyon 2). Blocks: 2 (Lyon, N. Maynard). Fouls 14. Fouled out: N. Maynard (4th, 1:10).

RUSSELL (14-3, 2-0): Lily Ervin 2 2 0-0 10, Prezley Price 0 1 0-0 3, Blaklie Fielden 0 0 0-0 0, Kennedy Darnell 4 0 2-4 10, Gabby Oborne 0 1 2-2 5, Myla Troxler 1 0 2-4 4, Karson Hale 1 0 0-0 2, Mila Wheeler 1 0 0-0 2, Kenley Kouns 6 2 1-1 19, Kamryn Fleming 1 0 2-2 4. Totals: 16 6 9-13 59. Rebounds: (O-12, D-17) 29. (Kouns 9, Fleming 6, Troxler 5). Assists: 4 (Oborne 3, Darnell). Steals: 9 (Ervin 3, Oborne 2). Blocks: 4 (Ervin 2, Oborne, Fleming). Fouls 15. Fouled out: None.