| Blackman, Riverdale, MTCS girls advance in region |
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By: JEFF JORDAN, Special to The Post
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Posted: Monday, March 1, 2010 11:39 pm
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The second round of the region tournament is history and Blackman was a winner over Shelbyville 46-39, in girls' competition.
Riverdale and Middle Tennessee Christian School also posted critical Region victories.
Boys play Tuesday night.
Blackman coach Chad Hibdon, with Katie Smith lost to injury, without question asked everyone on his team to do more: in coach speak this is known as “stepping up.”
On Monday night, when it really counted, Kortnay Cox stepped up big time with 20 points for the 22-6 Lady Blaze. Hibdon also did two other things long ago that have made a huge difference. He has surrounded himself with assistant coaches and players who don’t like to lose and he found a leader in Shelby Campbell.
Believe me, if you have any kind of problem to solve, it’s best to have Campbell on you side.
Shelby had 13 in the win over Shelbyville on the Eaglettes home floor. Kelsie Smith finished with 12 to lead the Eaglettes who finished 17-12.
The one major stat that Blackman won was the 32-21 edge in rebounding. Other than that it was an even game, but after Shelbyville’s only lead (30-29) of the second half, Blackman responded. The Blaze outscored the Eaglettes 17-9 the rest of the way.
This was Blackman’s third win over Shelbyville this season.
With the win, Blackman advances to the championship game at 7 on Wed. night in Shelbyville. The opponent – their nemesis – Riverdale.
Game two featured the Riverdale Warriors versus La Vergne and it had a familiar ending. Riverdale won 77-50 after leading by only five at the half.
For some reason, La Vergne (26-4) just simply cannot handle the Lady Warriors (25-2). The first two times they played RHS scored 66 and 65. It was the same story Monday night as RHS had a 25-point first quarter and never trailed in the game.
To La Vergne’s credit, they kept coming back but could never get over the hump. The Lady Wolverines won the rebound battle but had 18 turnovers to Riverdale’s 11 and managed only three 3s to Riverdale’s seven. LaQuinta Jefferson had 15 points and the counties leading scorer, Jasmine Dale, had 13. MTSU signee Stephanie Myers had 8 before fouling out in the 4th quarter trying to guard Barbee, which is proving to be near impossible for one person.
Riverdale in winning the second half 41-19, had a number of people pitch in as RHS coach Hillary Hodges emptied her bench in the 4th quarter. Shacobia Barbee had another career night with 27 and the two freshmen, Tyisha Petty and Olivia Jones, had 22 and 10.
Riverdale was effective from the foul line, hitting 20 of 26 and never put La Vergne in the one and one in the game.
Another big win Monday was an upset of the first order. MTCS (22-8) beat heavily favored Forrest 51-47 on the neutral floor at East Robertson and will advance to the championship game on Wednesday.
I haven’t talked with Lady Cougar coach Dan Wilkerson but he has to be thrilled as his team is in the finals and in the Sectional on Saturday. Alex Martin with 21 and Katie Mullins with 18 led the way. It wasn’t a fluke either, the Orange and White led at every break.
Tuesday night is boy’s night as Siegel (21-8) will take on Lawrence County (23–4) at 6 followed by OaKland (26–5) versus Columbia (1 11).
NOTES: The crowd on Monday was a good one. Our three teams have a lot of fans and they travel well and they are loud.
Riverdale’s Tyisha Petty had 11 in the third quarter – and one of the baskets was a twisting, sorta one-handed, off balance, close in shot while being fouled. One side of the gym loved it.
The Lawrence County boys have 23 wins this year but 10 of them are against teams in lower classifications. Does that mean anything?
Whichever of our girl’s teams is victorious on Wednesday will host the loser of the Cleveland / Walker Valley Championship game in Region 3. Our loser will travel to their winner.
Blackman did this and won last year at Walker Valley.
Boy’s games Tuesday night in Region 3: Cumberland County vs Ooltewah and McMinn County vs Cleveland. What! No Bradley County? |
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