PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Clay Lady Panthers used paint remover.

Unable to get any points in the paint, the Green Lady Bobcats fell 44-33 to Clay Thursday in a key Southern Ohio Conference game.

“I have to give their defense some credit. They took away our inside game pretty well,” Green coach Dale Royse said.

“(Elista) Hall did have 17 points, but we didn’t get a whole lot of shots in the lane.”

Hall was the only Green player in double figures (5-4, 3-3 SOC).

Mallory White had 12 points to lead Clay which remained first in the SOC at 7-1. The Lady Panthers are 8-2 overall.

Despite the loss, Royse was pleased with his team’s effort.

“We lost but the effort was there. We made some mistakes, but as long as the effort is there I can’t complain,” Royse said.

Hall scored 13 of Green’s 18 points in the first half including all five points in the first quarter and the Bobcats trailed 20-18 at the break.

“Hall played well. We knew going in we had to win this game to have a chance at the league,” Royse said.

Clay outscored Green 24-15 in the second half to seal the win.

Green51396=33

Ports. Clay4161212=44

GREEN (5-4, 3-3): Jessica Dyer 1 1 0-1 5, Traci Elrod 1 0 1-13, Elista Hall 2 3 4-6 17, Kortney Pfleger 2 0 0-1 4, Heidi Tackett 0 0 1-2 1, Shay Richendollar 0 1 0-0 3. Totals: 6

5

5-11

33. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Pfleger.

PORTSMOUTH CLAY (8-2, 7-1): Katie Duduit 2 0 3-6 7, Cameron Donini 2 0 3-10 7, Brittany Weeks 0 1 0-0 3, Mallory White 6 0 0-3 12, Kelsey Adams 1 0 3-4 5, Dani Summers 3 0 0-0 6 Cami Groves 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 16

1

9-23

44. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: None.