Everything did not go according to plan for either team.
Neither Pleasant Grove nor Liberty-Eylau controlled the offensive tempo, but the Lady Hawks went on to a 55-49 victory in a crosstown rivalry, girls varsity basketball game at Hawk Gym on Tuesday.
Pleasant Grove out-rebounded the Lady Leopards, 51-32, but committed more turnovers (33-25).
"I think our defense was really good," Hawks' head coach Marsha Cowling said. "We crashed the boards pretty good but had way too many turnovers. We would get a lead, but then we'd start making turnovers. We were back and forth. We have to play better on offense, trust each other more, and make better decisions."
Keshawn Davis and Ashanti Levingston each had a game-high 16 points for Pleasant Grove. Maiya Ware and Asia Lloyd each had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Hawks.
Keeley Norris paced Liberty-Eylau with 12 points, while teammate Daycoria Meadows added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.
"The second quarter was the difference in the game," Leopards' head coach Aquanetta Watson said. "They outscored us 12-5 in the second quarter, and we lost by six. A team has to score more than five points in a varsity game to be in it. We got to the point where we weren't running the offense.
"The girls was trying to figure out the Pleasant Grove defense, and we just weren't productive offensively. I think we played well on the glass. I think we could have played a little harder. I think we can get it together, and we'll be alright."
The Hawks shot 38 percent from the field (21 of 55), while the Leopards connected on 32 percent of their shots (20 of 62).
The first quarter was played on even keel, and the Hawks took a 17-16 lead. Davis scored eight points in the quarter for PG.
After Kyla Coston knocked down a 3-pointer for L-E to start the second, the Hawks went on a 10-0 run to go up by eight. During the run, Ware hit a putback, Davis hit a layup, Phoebe Robertson knocked down a jump shot, Lloyd drove in for a layup, and Davis hit a 4-foot jumper.
The run propelled Pleasant Grove to a 29-21 halftime lead.
"I was pleased with the girls' effort on defense," Cowling said. "Our defense was the reason why we were able to pull out the win."
Liberty-Eylau came out on a 5-0 rally to inch within three points, but Pleasant Grove went on an 8-0 run to take an 11-point lead in the third.
Norris hit a putback, Coston hit a shot from 3-point land, and Skylier Bailey drove in for a layup as the Leopards made it a 2-point game at 37-35.
Shanequa Henry hit a layup and Levingston knocked down a jumper to give the Hawks a six-point lead after the third quarter.
"Overall, the effort was there," Watson said. "It is always emotional in these cross-town rivalry games. It is always a great game to be a part of, and it is more about being prepared mentally than physically."
The fourth quarter was played dead even as each team scored 14 points. Pleasant Grove hit on 10 of 16 charity shots, which proved to be enough.
Taylor Whitaker swished in 11 points, and teammate Hallie Lipham added 10 as Pleasant Grove defeated Liberty Eylau 44-24 in the junior varsity game.
Tamara Norris led all scorers with 14 points for the Leopards' jayvee.
Liberty-Eylau (15-10, 1-1) hosts Paris in a District 15-4A matchup on Friday.
Pleasant Grove (20-3, 2-0) plays at Pittsburg on Friday in a District 15-4A clash.
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Liberty-Eylau=16=5=14=14-49
Pleasant Grove=17=12=12=14-55
L-E (49): Howard 4 0-0 8, Ke. Norris 5 2-3 12, Coston 2 0-0 6, George 1 0-0 3, Thomas 0 2-2 2, Meadows 4 1-4 9, Ka. Norris 1 0-0 2, S. Bailey 3 0-0 6, Crabtree 0 1-2 1, TOTALS 20 6-11 49.
PG (55): Lloyd 2 2-4 6, Levingston 6 4-5 16, Ware 3 1-2 7, Henry 2 2-6 6, Robertson 1 2-2 4, DAvis 7 2-5 16, TOTALS 21 13-24 55.
3-point goals: L-E-Coston 2, George. PG-none. Team fouls: Liberty-Eylau 18, Pleasant Grove 9.