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Gallatin’s Courtney Ray proved Saturday night that one player can make a difference in team chemistry, and in the outcome of a big game.
Ray, coming off an arm injury that kept her out of the lineup Wednesday against Lathrop, helped turn a five-point, first quarter deficit into a double digit lead and victory as Gallatin rebounded to beat South Harrison, 49-35, and win the third place trophy in the Hamilton Invitational Tournament.
South Harrison led, 7-2, when Ray came off the bench and sparked her teammates. Casey Sweatman nailed a pair of treys and Tye Humphrey hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to kick start Gallatin’s momentum swing.
Wren Tolen cashed in a three-point play early in the second period, followed by Ray’s outside three-pointer and her old-fashioned three-point play (layup and free throw) that resulted from a long outlet pass from Ashley Owens. The GHS girls were on their way.
Ray finished the second period with 10 points and Gallatin punctuated a double digit advantage when Owens popped a trey with a minute left in the half.
A 15-6 surge in the third quarter pushed the lead to 46-27 as South Harrison took shot after shot that either rolled off the rim or clanged against the backboard. Gallatin took the air out of the ball with five minutes left in the game and was content to close out scoring in the fourth with a Maggie Strange field goal and lone free throw from Tolen.
Ray finished with 17 points, all in the middle periods, to lead Gallatin. Tolen added 12 to the winning total.
Lathrop broke open a close game in the second quarter and ended up beating the Lady Bulldogs handily, 62-41, in Wednesday’s semifinal round. The Lady Mules dominated quarter #2 of a foul-marred first half and took a 31-18 lead into the break behind a withering full-court press.
Tolen scored 20 points to lead Gallatin.