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<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"South Laurel\u2019s season-best five-game win streak might have came to an end on Friday, but the Lady Cardinals continue to show they\u2019re improving game by game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chris Souder\u2019s squad held their own during an 80-76 loss to No. 9 Ryle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Laurel battled throughout, and never gave in before finally falling by four points. The Lady Cardinals trailed 22-18 at the end of the first quarter, and 47-39 at halftime before cutting their deficit to 66-61 entering the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Laurel outscored the Lady Raiders, 15-14, in the final eight minutes but came up short in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe really battled tonight just came up a little short,\u201d Souder said. \u201cI was really proud of our kids because we are really short-handed with some nagging injuries. At one point, we had four eighth graders and (Aubrey) Bundy on the floor. Emily (Cox) continues to prove she is one of the better seniors in the state. What other senior is surrounded by middle schoolers but continues to produce. She finished with 36tonight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe got really good minutes tonight from Jamie Buenaventura, eighth grader Sydney Blanton, and eighth grader Chloe Mastin,\u201d he added. \u201cJust good to see at this point of the season that we competed with one of the top teams in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Cardinals had trouble containing Ryle\u2019s big three of Sarah Baker, Abby Hoffman, and Quinn Eubank. The trio combined to score 70 points with Baker and Hoffman adding 26 points apiece while Eubank finished with 18 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Laurel senior Emily Cox led all scorers with 36 points while hitting four 3-pointers. Maci Messer, and Jamie Buenaventura each scored 10 points apiece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n