The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Troutman, Carter combine for 23 points to lead Indians over Spartans
Troutman scores 8 of 12 points in second half

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
MOUNT SAVAGE, Feb. 3 -- Great post play by Taylor Carter and mid-range shooting by Mikayla Troutman spurred the Mount Savage sixth-grade girls basketball team to a 30-10 win over visiting Bishop Walsh.

A strong defensive effort, led by Allie Dittmer and Emily Helmstetter, stymied the Spartans throughout the game as Mount Savage held Bishop Walsh to a single point in the first period and scoreless in the third period.

The Indians led 11-6 at halftime - Carter and Troutman each had four points to lead the home team - but Mount Savage broke the game wide open with a 14-0 third quarter.

Troutman started the third period with a bucket just 50 seconds into the six-minute period. Madison Reed, whose free throw gave the Indians a 9-3 lead midway through the second, hit a field goal 61 seconds after Troutman to up the Indians' lead to 15-6.

The Indians weren't finished. Carter hit a bucket from the inside with three minutes and 44 seconds left in the quarter before Troutman hit the second of her three field goals in the period to give Mount Savage a 19-6 advantage.

Carter then stole the ball and scored another bucket on a fastbreak for the Indians, who took forced several turnovers on the night. Both Troutman and Carter scored one more field goal apiece to close out the third-period scoring blitz as the Indians led, 25-6.

Mount Savage continued its torrid streak early in the fourth quarter when Troutman connected with another field only 67 seconds into the final period. A little more than a minute later, Carter nailed a bucket and, fouled, completed the three-point play by hitting the free throw for a 30-6 lead.

It was little surprise, though, that when the Spartans slowed the Indians' spurt, the effort was led by Annie Simpson, who finished with a team-high five points.