The last time Riverdale (28 – 1) faced Blackman (21 – 5) the Lady Warriors played well, Blackman was missing a starter, the game was at Riverdale and the Lady Warriors could manage no more than a six-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

These were all warning signs that trouble lay ahead. Buddy, did it ever.
 
On Monday night the Blackman girls opened strong and ended up winning every quarter but the second on their way to a 40 – 37 upset win and a District Tournament Championship.

It took a while for Riverdale to match Blackman’s intensity and focus but when RHS did they got a five-point halftime lead and held it for awhile. The Lady Warriors were down 10 – 3 before the sense of urgency hit. Riverdale carried a four-point lead into the fourth quarter but Blackman simply refused to lose.
 
Tournament MVP Amy Duke and Senior Katie Smith took over the fourth quarter as both scored six points in the stanza. It was enough and they had some help, especially with team defense.
 
The key stats are not always shooting stats but this time they are.

Both Bryan Barrett of WGNS radio and I had the same percentages. Blackman shot 41 percent - Riverdale a miserable 22 percent and the red and gold free throw percentage wasn’t a lot better.

A good team on their home floor that plays with defensive purpose will win most of the time and that was a well prepared Blackman Monday night.
 
Scoring: Blackman- Chelsey Hall- 7, Kortnay Cox- 2, Kelsey Nowlin - 6, Amy Duke - 17, Katie Smith - 6, Tiera Norris - 2, Amy Duke - 17.
 
Riverdale - Tyisha Petty - 2, Alexa Middleton - 8, Olivia Jones - 9, Shacobia Barbee - 18
 
The Shelbyville girls, who finished fourth in District 8, now travel to Blackman on Friday night for the first round of the region. They will leave as soon as they stop jumping up and down that they don’t have to be humiliated by Riverdale again. They better worry about Blackman.
 
The Lincoln County girls were likely very pleased to win and avoid Riverdale. Then they discover that Blackman won and the Falcons get Riverdale next at Riverdale Friday. There is little joy in Fayetteville tonight.
 
The consolation game was a good one as Siegel (23 – 7) came roaring back after trailing 26 – 21 at the half and beat Oakland (19 – 10), 50 – 39. Oakland’s Ellen Riggins opened the game as the go-to girl in the middle and Oakland got and kept an early lead for a long time before the Cavalier explosion in the 3rd quarter.

Siegel won the quarter 17 – 4 and went on to win the fourth as well. One key stat that I didn’t keep, but Bryan Barrett of WGNS did, was free throw percentage. Siegel was an amazing 17 of 18 (94 percent) from the line while Oakland was 4 of 11 (36 percent).
 
Scoring: Siegel: Kelsey Naish – 15, Shanice Cason – 13, Shelbie Davenport -12, Imani Chatman – 5, Maddie Denton – 5.
 
Oakland: Emily Eubank - 5, Ke Ke Cook - 6, Brianne Alexander - 6, Monica Barrett - 6, Ellen Riggins - 13, Kaitlin King - 2, Kaitlin Oliver - 1.
 
On Friday night, Siegel will travel to Franklin County to take on the Rebels and Oakland will journey to Lawrence County and a date with the Wildcats in region play.

After the girl’s games on Friday and the boy’s games on Saturday, the rest of the Region tournament will be at LaVergne High.