Coalfield and Oneida Advance to Region 2-1A Girls Finals

March 1, 2022 admin featured

By Terry Futrell

District 3-1A teams Coalfield and Oneida swept District 4-1A teams Harriman and Greenback in Region 2-1A semifinals Monday evening. Coalfield defeated Harriman 66-61 and Oneida defeated Greenback 55-44.

Coalfield vs Harriman

Any fans who might have fallen asleep during the earlier game between Oneida and Greenback were quickly awakened as the two strongest offensive teams in the region, Coalfield and Harriman, went after each other with a vengeance. Due to the vagaries of bracketology, these two teams met in the semifinals, but their performance is likely the best we will see in the entire tournament.

The offensive performance of both teams was illustrated by four players combining for 102 points! Coalfield’s Gabbi Lowe poured in 35 points for the Lady Jackets and Kadence Jackson added 17 points. Not to be outdone, Addison Oliver put 26 points on the board for Harriman and Skyler Johnson added 24 points.

It wasn’t as if the teams played poor defense. Coalfield was charged with 22 fouls in the game, while Harriman was charged with 18 fouls. Coalfield converted on 17 of 22 free throw attempts, while Harriman converted 24 of 32 attempts. In the critical fourth quarter, Harriman converted 11 of 17 free throws, and the Lady Jackets converted 11 of 13 free throws.

Coalfield took a 15-13 lead in the first quarter as both offenses performed well. Jackson led the Lady Jackets with six points, while Oliver shouldered the load for Harriman with nine points in the quarter.

Coalfield outscored the Lady Devils 18-15 in the second quarter as Lowe poured in 11 points, including three treys. Jackson also hit a 3-point shot and added five points for Coalfield. Oliver continued to lead Harriman with six points.

The teams continued to battle in the third quarter, with Coalfield taking a 1-point scoring advantage, 13-12. Lowe, Jackson, and Alexis Morrison each came up big for the Lady Jackets. Coalfield’s defense held Oliver to only two free throws in the quarter, but Harriman’s Skyler Johnson stepped up big with eight points. Coalfield led 46-40 after three periods.

Both teams stepped up their game, both offensively and defensively, in the fourth quarter. Both Jackson and Lowe fouled out for Coalfield, but not before Lowe scored 13 points, including 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Johnson poured in eight points for the Lady Devils and Oliver added nine points, including a perfect 7 of 7 free throws. Harriman outscored Coalfield in the quarter 21-20, but it was not enough to overcome Coalfield’s lead.

The Lady Jackets earned a 66-61 victory and move on to play Oneida for the Region 2-1A championship Wednesday evening. It will be the fourth time this season that Coalfield and Oneida have met with the Lady Jackets holding a 2-1 advantage.

Coalfield’s Gabbi Lowe drives for two of her 35 points. Lowe hit six 3-point shots in the game. [Photo by Terry Futrell]

Harriman’s Addison Oliver shoots over Coalfield’s Isabella Armes and Alexis Morrison. Oliver scored 26 points for Harriman. [Photo by Terry Futrell]

Lady Jacket Kadence Jackson repeatedly attacked the basket, scoring 17 points for Coalfield. [Photo by Terry Futrell]

Harriman’s Skyler Johnson poured in 24 points for the Lady Devils. [Photo by Terry Futrell]

Oneida vs Greenback

The Oneida Lady Indians got off to a terrible start in their game with the Greenback Lady Cherokees. After Annaleah Terry hit a 3-point basket early in the first quarter, Oneida turned the ball over every way known to mankind, and probably invented a few new ways. Meanwhile, the Lady Cherokees were putting points on the board and built a 16-3 first quarter lead. At one point, Oneida Coach Marv West was observed kneeling at side court with his face in his hands. It is unknown whether he was praying or simply refusing to view the carnage being suffered by his team at the hands of Greenback.

Miracles do sometimes happen, and the Lady Indians began to mount a comeback early in the second quarter. Reversing their play of the first quarter, the Lady Indians rattled off 17 points in the second quarter while holding Greenback to only four points. The teams were tied 20-20 as the first half ended.

Oneida took a 33-31 lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Cherokees 13-11 as Ali Smith, Raylie Bush, and Annaleah Terry each buried a 3-point shot. Oneida’s defense continued to keep Greenback in check.

Oneida pulled away in the fourth quarter as Bush and Rachel Elmore each connected on 3-point shots. The Lady Indians converted 8 of 10 free throws in the stretch to seal the 55-44 victory.

Two Lady Indians scored in double figures – Smith scored 11 points and Bush added 10 points. Greenback was led by Keri Alexander with 13 points and Madison Graves with 12 points.

Oneida moves on to play Coalfield in the Region 2-1A finals on Wednesday.