Dixon continues winning ways

DIXON – The Dixon Duchesses are taking a winning record into the month of February.

Dixon overcame a seven-point, third-quarter deficit, finishing strong in a 37-31 nonconference girls basketball win over the Princeton Tigers on Tuesday night at Lancaster Gym.

Trailing 26-19 with just over 2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Duchesses (13-12) responded, closing the game with an 18-5 tear.

The comeback win came on the heels of Dixon’s win over Sterling on Monday night, the Duchesses’ first win over the Warriors since 2003.

“We were so pumped up [Monday] night and [Tuesday],” said Dixon’s Catie Cox, who scored all of her team-high 15 points in the first three quarters. “We didn’t have the same energy this time, but I don’t think it was physical. It was more that we were playing a team we didn’t know, and it wasn’t our big rival.”

Down 26-19, the Duchesses used a 10-1 burst to take their second lead of the night at 29-27 with 6:13 to play. Dixon would not trail again.

Cox started the flurry with a rebound putback. Brooke Bailey, who scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half, added a runner from the lane. Becca Hendley contributed a fast-break bucket and Cox a free throw. Bailey capped the run with a 3-pointer from the right corner, giving the Duchesses a 29-27 edge with 6:13 left.

Moments later Hendley gave Dixon the lead for good with a pair of free throws with 5:18 remaining. The Duchesses put the game away at the free-throw line.

Dixon coach Luke Ravlin was happy his team bounced back after its win over Sterling.

“It takes a lot of energy to play a team like Sterling,” he said. “It was another challenge for our team to come back today after that, and I’m proud of the way we met the challenge.”

Princeton (14-13) got a team-high 15 points from Jasmine Kunkel despite foul trouble, 12 coming in the first half.

The Tigers jumped in front 6-0. The Duchesses’ first lead was 17-16 after a 3 from Bailey with 3:07 left in the first half. Princeton immediately regained the lead and led until Bailey’s go-ahead 3 with 6:13 to play.