Paxton captures sixth straight district championship (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

LAUREL HILL — What the Paxton girls basketball team’s performance in the District 1-A tournament finals lacked in style points was surely made up for in grit and, most importantly, results.

Click to view a photo gallery from the game »

Despite a sluggish first half in which the Bobcats struggled with possession and finding their shooting touch, Paxton willed its way to a 46-38 win over Bethlehem Saturday night at Laurel Hill to capture its sixth straight district title.

And the Bobcats (18-9) did it with their leading scorer, Erin Walker, handcuffed due to early foul trouble and constant double-teaming.

“Obviously they were wanting to shut (Walker) down because she’s a big threat,” Krysten Cuchens said. “I knew somebody had to take control.”

Cuchens did just that in scoring 12 points while Alyssa Dupree came off the bench to add a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Having weathered a second-half run by Bethlehem that saw the Wildcats (17-10) cut what was a 20-11 Paxton lead at the half down to three points at 27-24 entering the fourth quarter, Bobcats first-year coach Steve Williams credited his team’s mental and physical toughness in the game’s most critical juncture.

“In the fourth quarter, it was just a matter of will and rebounding,” Williams said.

Paxton passed with flying colors on both counts.

Late in the fourth with the Bobcats nursing a 37-33 advantage, three offensive rebounds in one possession eventually led to a bucket inside by Katie Kinkey.

On Bethlehem’s ensuing possession, Walker made her impact, rejecting Kaylin Griffin’s layup and later extending the Paxton lead to 40-35 on a free throw.

“We just got tired,” said Bethlehem coach Andrew Sumner, who got a game-high 19 points from Jennifer Hatcher.