Logan's Bam Mosby (34) splits the double team of Ava Edwards (11) and Karson Jones during the fourth quarter of Logan's victory over Nitro Wednesday night at the Willie Akers Arena (Photo by Boothe Davis/Captured by the Moment Photography).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
LOGAN Natalie Blankenship scored 16 points as Class AAA No. 9 Logan held No. 5 Nitro to a single fourth quarter field goal in a 41-32 victory Wednesday night at the Willie Akers Arena.
Blankenship had eight points and was 3 of 5 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help Logan, who has won five of its last seven games, improve to 10-9 on the season and 6-4 in the Cardinal Conference.
Ava Edwards scored nine points to lead Nitro in scoring. Taylor Maddox had eight and Hailey Newsome seven for Nitro, who has lost four straight and six of its last eight games.
Nitro's record falls to 9-7 overall and 6-3 in the Cardinal Conference.
Nitro led 13-12 before Halle Crouse's beat the first buzzer with a short jumper giving Logan a 14-13 lead after one quarter of play.
Logan led 23-18 at halftime, but Nitro rallied in the third quarter to take a 27-26 lead on Maddox's layup with 2:26 remaining; however, Logan got a 3 from Blankenship and a Rylee Conn free throw to take a 30-27 lead after three quarters.
Blankenship nailed a step back 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter scoring, which gave Logan a 33-27 lead.
Twenty-eight seconds later, Maddox was fouled and hit a jumper to close the gap to 33-29, however, Maddox was injured on the play and had to be replaced by Jaycee Sigmon, who converted the free throw to bring Nitro within three, 33-30, with 6:32 to play.
Maddox's field goal was the only successful field goal of the fourth quarter as Nitro managed just two free throws for the remainder of the fourth quarter.
Autumn Adkins had 12 points and four of Logan's eight 3-pointers while Crouse finished with six points.
Logan 41, Nitro 32
Nitro (9-7)
Sigmon 0 3-3 3, Maddox 4 0-0 8, Edwards 4 0-0 9, Newsome 2 2-4 7, Jones 0 5-12 5.
Totals: 10 10-19 32.
Logan (10-9)
Blankenship 5 3-5 16, Amick 1 1-2 4, Crouse 2 2-8 6, Adkins 4 0-0 12, Conn 1 1-2 3.
Totals: 13 7-17 41.
Nitro 13 5 9 5- 32
Logan 14 9 7 11- 41
3-Point Field Goals_Nitro 2 (Edwards, Newsome), Logan 8 (Blankenship 3, Amick, Adkins 4).