WEST UNION -- Doddridge County outlasted a resilient Liberty team, 56-44 Monday night in girls basketball action.
The game opened with Doddridge jumping to a 10-0 lead. Liberty narrowed the margin to 10-7 before Doddridge County's Lisa Davis nailed one of her three 3-pointers to give the Bulldogs a six-point edge entering the second quarter.
Doddridge County opened the second quarter with another 10-0 run to cruise to a comfortable 23-7 advantage. Danielle Powell poured in four of her 11 points during the decisive spurt.
Liberty managed to climb back into contention, despite having two starters, Katy Orndorff and Amy Curry, slowed by the flu.
Doddridge extended its lead to 42-22 late in the third quarter when the Mountaineers battled back behind Valerie Bramel and Lindsay Brown. Bramel finished with 12 points and Brown added 11.
The deficit was limited to 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Liberty got no closer.
"I thought the kids hustled tonight," Liberty coach Larry Ritter said. "We missed shots, and Katie and Amy were really sick, but I'm proud of the kids because they never quit."
The Bulldogs' quick start paved the way to their second-straight win in what has been an up-and-down season.
"We had a pretty good first half," Doddridge County coach Craig Kellar said. "But we missed some easy shots that could have broken the game more wide open."
