Fresh off a career-high 39-point performance, Pillow Academy senior Madeline Mattox continued her torrid pace in the Lady Mustangs’ home opener Thursday night against Regents of Oxford.
Mattox scored 13 of her game-high 14 points in the first quarter and added a team-best eight rebounds to fuel Pillow’s 48-14 victory over the visiting Lions.
Avery Howard also had a big game for the Lady Mustangs (3-1), totaling 10 points, six boards and three steals.
Mattox only hit one 3-pointer compared to the five she knocked down during last week’s explosion, but Pillow didn’t need much offense in this week’s matchup. Mattox scored seven of the Lady Mustangs’ first 10 points as they jumped out to a 19-1 lead after one quarter. Regents didn’t hit its first field goal until the second quarter.
“Our defense worked really well,” Mattox said. “Our goal right now is to get better on defense every single game and I thought tonight we did great on defense.”
So far this season, Mattox has proved she’s more than just a sharpshooter.
The multi-sport standout showcased an improved ability to finish at the rim that head coach Durwin Carpenter hinted at during preseason workouts, spinning home a nifty layup off the glass just before the end of the first frame that sent Pillow’s student section into a frenzy.
The Lady Mustangs still had sloppy moments, though, being outscored in the second quarter. But they bounced back in the third quarter, stretching their 26-9 halftime lead to 45-11 entering the final frame.
Moving forward, Mattox is looking for Pillow to work on “driving more to the basket line and getting to the free throw line more.”
The Lady Mustangs play at home again on Monday against Lee Academy at 6:30 p.m.
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend-@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
