The Gibson Southern Lady Titans basketball team hosted the Boonville Pioneers in the first round of Sectional with a 66-46 win. On offense, the Lady Titans were led by sophomore Cloey Graham who scored 19 points. The Titans had two other double-digit scorers: junior Alexis Tucker with 19 points and freshman Gabby Spink with 12. The Titans now have a 16-7 record with the win against Boonville. The Pioneers were led by senior Alaysha Brandenburger, who had 24 points. 

“The most difficult part of the game was being able to contain senior captain Alaysha Brandenburger,” sophomore Ally Malone said. “We knew she was going to be tough to guard.”

The Titans had a solid lead with a score of 19-9 in the first quarter and a 39-22 lead in the third, despite a run led by Brandenbuger. 

“When it was close, I remember Gabby Spink stepping up and hitting a crucial three-pointer that gave us a four-point lead,” Malone said. “After that, we never looked back.”

With the defense holding the Pioneers to just 46 points, the TItans continued to run up the score early in the fourth quarter. 

“Defense was key over Boonville,” senior guard Taylor Hart said. “We had to know where their best player was at all times and try to contain her as much as possible.”

The Titans advanced to the Sectional semi-final, as did the Bosse Bulldogs. The two teams will match up Saturday, February 5, in the second round of Sectional play.  

“We will have to come out early and take care of business!” Hart said. “We have to play lockdown defense, which will lead to offensive possessions.”

Looking ahead to the coming game, head coach Kyle Brasher already has a plan against Bosse. 

“The main thing that we will focus on is ball pressure and the defensive end,” Brasher said.