District 3-1A Girls Semifinals – February 15, 2019

February 16, 2019 admin featured

By Terry Futrell

Oneida Shuts Down Oliver Springs 56-35

With Kendyl West sidelined by emergency surgery earlier in the week, many wondered how the top-seed Oneida Lady Indians would perform in the District 3-1A tournament. All doubts were removed as the Lady Indians exploded in the third quarter and defeated the Oliver Springs Lady Cats 56-35.

The Lady Cats gave Oneida all they wanted in the first half and trailed by only two points at intermission, 25-23. Oneida came out strong in the third quarter, using a stifling zone defense to hold Oliver Springs to eight points. At the same time, the Lady Indians poured in 19 points, with Chelsea Newport leading the way with seven points in the quarter. Down 44-31 going into the fourth quarter, Oliver Springs was held to only four points in the final period.

Oneida was led by Katelyn Stiltner with 16 points, all gained through aggressive inside play. Shay Buttram added nine points for the Lady Indians. Cassidy Gilmore and Desirae Davis scored 10 points each for the Lady Cats.

With the victory, Oneida earned a berth in the district championship match on Tuesday, where they will face Midway at 8:00 PM at Roane State. Oliver Springs will face Sunbright in the Consolation game on Tuesday at 6:30 PM, also at Roane State.

Midway Uses Strong Fourth Quarter to Down Sunbright 62-47

Midway’s Caitlyn Ross shows why she is District 3-1A MVP as she drives past Sunbright’s Hannah Shannon on a fast break. Ross scored a game-high 17 points. [Photo by Terry Futrell]

The semifinal matchup between the two-seed Sunbright Lady Tigers and the Midway Lady Waves was another barn-burner for the first half, with Midway taking a one-point 28-27 lead into the locker room. Though Sunbright played consistently throughout the game, Midway forged ahead with a 34-21 second half to claim the victory 62-47.

With District 3-1A MVP Caitlyn Ross leading the way, the Lady Waves outscored Sunbright 14-9 in the third period. Ross scored eight points and Rebecca Lemasters added six points in the period. Ross and Lemasters combined for four 3-point baskets in the third quarter. Paige Bacon led the Lady Waves to a 20-12 advantage in in the fourth period, hitting 7 of 7 free throws.

Ross was the game’s high scorer with 17 points for Midway. Bacon added 14 points, while Lemasters and Heaven Prinzi scored 10 points each for the Lady Waves. Makenna Brown led Sunbright with 14 points, while Olivia Northrup added 13 points and Taylor Cox scored 11 points.

Midway will face Oneida on Tuesday at 8:00 PM for the District 3-1A championship at Roane State. The matchup between the small, but fast and agile Lady Waves and the taller Lady Indians with their tight zone defense will be an interesting one to watch. Sunbright will face Oliver Springs at 6:30 PM on Tuesday in the Consolation game at Roane State.