BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

NAUGATUCK — It was a great debut for first-year head coach Seth Ooten on Thursday night. His Lady Panthers defeated Cross Lanes Christian 60-23 at the TVHS gym in Naugatuck.

The Lady Warriors took a 2-0 lead at the start of the game. From that point, it was all Tug Valley. The Lady Panthers led 21-2 after one quarter.

“It feels great to get the first win. I’m more excited for the girls to get their first win than myself. They have been putting a lot of hours in practice and it makes those practices a little easier on everyone when you can get a win,” Ooten said.

“I thought the team played well. Defensively they came out of the gate fast, getting steals, defensive rebounding, trapping, and communicating,” he added. “Once they settled down from the initial nerves of their first home game, they looked better offensively, running the floor and finishing around the rim.”

Tug Valley placed three players in double figures led by Bailee Hall with 20 points, while Kenzie Browning scored 12 and Haven Deskins 10. Katelyn Richardson chipped in six points for the Lady Panthers, while Brooke Spaulding had four, Riley Parker four and Mindi Darnell and Zoey Hensley each scored two points.

TVHS led 33-14 at the half.

The Lady Panthers outscored the visitors 19-3 in the third quarter to pull away.

Sydney Persinger led Cross Lanes with 11 points.

Tug Valley hit the road to play Man on Monday and then Martin County Tuesday night. (Those scores will be in the next edition of the Mountain Citizen.)