| Riverdale rolls to berth in Girls State finals |
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Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010 5:55 pm
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Again, for what seems like the 20th time, the Riverdale girls (29–2) got off to a great start, and this time they never relaxed and went on to win easily 66 – 40 over a 29–4 Memphis Overton squad in the semis of the Girl’s State Tournament.
The Lady Warriors will advance to the finals on a 26-game winning streak at 6 on Saturday vs Morristown West (34–1) and on a 23-game winning streak themselves.
Friday verus Overton, Riverdale had a solid first half and just simply kept playing hard and executing.
In the first half RHS had fewer turnovers, more rebounds, 14 points from Shacobia Barbee, two 3s from Ashley Henry and two more from Candace Spurlock, who finished with three 3s in 4 attempts outside the arc.
All of this transferred into a 29 – 17 RHS halftime lead.
They never lost it.
During the first 4 minutes of the third quarter, Overton scored 4 points and RHS extended their lead to 19 before winning by 26.
Again Riverdale hit them with a little of everything, 10 Lady Warriors played and 7 scored, just like the previous double overtime win over vs Mt. Juliet and Riverdale played mostly man defense with a little zone here and there.
To put this in non- basketball terms, Barbee hits you with a sledgehammer and everyone else hits you with a regular hammer.
Shacobia finished with 30 points and an amazing 23 rebounds. That’s a serious double–double. Frankly, most teams don’t get 23 rebounds.
RHS finished with 39 boards. Barbee had 8 points in the first quarter, 6 in the second, 9 in the third and 7 in the fourth: a terrific night for #24 and she had plenty of help.
Tyisha Petty had 10 points, Spurlock 9, Henry 8, Olivia Jones had 4, Jaclissa Haislip finished with 3 and Natalie Lanning had 2.
Teams appear to be so scared of Lanning and Haislip and their 3 point shooting ability, that they are leaving Henry and Spurlock open for threes and trying to go one on one with Barbee.
So far, Lanning, Henry and Spurlock are hitting the three when open and Barbee is having a party down low. Haislip is getting very few good shots and Lanning got none Friday. Petty, Lanning and Haislip were a combined 15 of 18 from the line vs Overton. Riverdale chemistry and seemingly total lack of jealously is paying off.
Perhaps the most telling stat of the game was Riverdale’s 31 of 39 free throw shooting, 80 percent. Overton was only 8 0f 22 from the stripe.
In winning, Riverdale goes to the finals vs Morristown West (34–1) and a 59–51 winner in overtime in an upset over Memphis Central.
Tip off is scheduled for 6.
This is Riverdale’s third trip to Girls State and they have always gone to the finals, losing in 1979 to Warren County and winning in 2007 over Memphis Northside. Riverdale is an amazing 7–1 in State Tournament play.
The rest of Saturday’s schedule: Class A – 2:00 – Moore County vs Jackson County / Class AA - 4:00 - Gibson County vs McMinn County
NOTES: It was great to see Aubrey Jernigan, Nicole Petoskey and Rachel Orman get some playing time Friday. These three seniors contribute daily to Riverdale success.
Ashley Henry was hurt and badly shaken in the fourth quarter but seemed fine 45 minutes later: # 23 is tough.
Memphis Overton’s Cornella Fondren was the only Wolverine in double figures with 17: no one else was close.
Riverdale won every quarter Friday, by 5 in the first, 7 in the second, 10 in the third and 4 in the fourth.
The Siegel boys, who will play on the 18th, will find out the opponent and the exact time they play, in a blind draw Saturday. The Murfreesboro Post will have it on line.
In addition the TSSAA Board will meet during Boy’s State and will discuss some solutions to the football playoff mess. I have two suggestions:
1) Let’s give them a chance to fix this.
2) Get ready to run screaming into the night
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