By PAMELA SCOTT JOHNSON

Sports Editor

GOODY, Ky. – The Belfry Lady Pirates have spent a busy summer preparing for next season. BHS has played around 20 summer basketball games over the past month.

Yesterday Letcher County Central came to South Williamson to give the Lady Pirates another summer contest.

The score was tied 10 all with time running out of the first half when Connie Elkins stole the ball and passed it down court to Bethany Tackett. She was fouled with .06 seconds on the clock and stepped to the line sinking one of two shots to give Belfry an 11-10 halftime lead.

The Pirates lost the scrimmage to the Lady Cougars.

After losing the nucleus of the squad to graduation, BHS needed the summer games to prepare the new crew for the 2011/12 season. The Bucs return Caitlyn Woolum, Emily Baker and Stack from a team that ended last season with an 18-8 record.

Joining the Lady Pirates are Connie Elkins who sat out last year and Jessica Sanger who transferred to Belfry after Williamson High School closed its doors and consolidated with Gilbert, Burch and Matewan to form Mingo Central.

Letcher Central lost three players to graduation from a squad that went 19-2 last year. The Lady Cougars have played 15 summer games.

The two squads began the afternoon with two junior varsity games. Belfry won the first game 8-7 and dropped the second 16-8. Seventh grader Lena Harrison displayed great ball-handling skills and could prove to be an asset to the varsity during the season.