By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

They made it interesting.

Trailing by 12 points in the early stages of the fourth quarter, the LaGrange Lady Grangers fought back and got as close as six points, but it was visiting Lamar County hanging on for a 51-42 victory.

The loss put an end to a three-game losing streak for LaGrange (4-3), which will try to get back on track with Thursday’s road game against Pike County.

LaGrange was playing without one of its top players, senior post player Madison Coverson, and head coach Stephen Tuck said her absence was felt.

“We missed Madison Coverson. She was out with the flu,” Tuck said. “That’s 10 or 12 (points), and she’s just solid. We had to go small sometimes, and we just tried to get that production in other places. It’s tough.”

Leading 24-21 at the half, Lamar County took control in the third quarter, outscoring LaGrange 11-6 to build a 35-27 lead heading to the final quarter.

The deficit was 12 points when Corriah Williams knocked down a 3-pointer, making it a 39-30 game with 6:45 to play.

A minute later Qua Robinson made a 3-pointer of her own, and LaGrange was within seven.

After Lamar County scored to go back up by nine, Williams’ second 3-pointer of the quarter got LaGrange within six with 4:58 to play.

Lamar County scored the next four points to grab a 10-point lead when Ayana Ramsey drained a 3-pointer to cut LaGrange’s deficit to 47-40 with 2:40 to play.

The Lady Grangers only scored two points the rest of the way, though, as the Lady Trojans held on for the road win.

“This was the first time, and I told them downstairs, that we got outhustled,” Tuck said. “We really got outhustled. They got their hands on a lot of balls. I understand height, but you’ve still got to go down there and fight, and they had a little bit more fight today.”