Region 2-1A Girls Basketball Quarterfinal Action
Lady Jackets Only Morgan County Team Remaining
By Terry Futrell
It wasn’t a good night for Morgan County girls basketball teams as three of the four schools suffered defeat in quarterfinal action in Region 2-1A. Only the Coalfield Lady Jackets remain to carry the torch for Morgan County into regional semifinal action on Monday.
Coalfield vs Midway
District 3-1A runner-up Coalfield hosted District 4-1A third place finisher Midway Friday evening but proved to be a rather inhospitable host as they decimated the Lady Waves 57-34. Midway played tough early in the game and Coalfield led by only three points at the end of the first period, 14-11. The Lady Jackets gained a slight additional advantage and expanded their lead to 28-20 at the half.
Midway continued to play tough in the third, with Coalfield leading 40-31 going into the final period. The Lady Jackets exploded for 17 points in the final period while holding Midway to only three points and closed out with a 57-34 victory. Coalfield will play District 4-1A champion Harriman in Region 2-1A semifinal action Monday evening at Harriman at 7:30 pm.
Oakdale vs Oneida
District 4-1A fourth place finisher Oakdale traveled to Oneida where they faced the District 3-1A winner Lady Indians. Oneida took a 13-8 first quarter lead over Oakdale. Behind the shooting of Annaleah Terry, who scored 14 points in the first half, the Lady Indians pulled away to a 36-18 lead at halftime. After the break, the Lady Indians cruised to a 64-38 win over the Lady Eagles and a semifinal berth to play District 4-1A runner-up Greenback at Harriman Monday evening at 6:00 pm.
Sunbright vs Greenback
The Sunbright Lady Tigers, third place finisher in District 3-1A made the long trek to Greenback to face the District 4-1A runner-up Lady Cherokees. After Sunbright took an early 6-0 lead, Greenback went on a scoring run and led 21-15 at the half.
The Lady Tigers fought back and took the lead 36-32 with just over one minute left in the game. After a foul by Greenback and an associated technical foul call against Sunbright, the Sunbright lead was cut to 37-34. Greenback hit a 3-pointer to tie the score at 37-37 with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Sunbright was unable to score, then fouled Lady Cherokee Kierra Bishop as she attempted a shot with 11 seconds to go. Bishop hit both free throws and gave Greenback a 39-37 victory over Sunbright. Greenback moves on to play District 3-1A champion Oneida in Region 2-1A semifinal action at Harriman on Monday at 6:00 pm.
Wartburg vs Harriman
The Wartburg Central Lady Bulldogs, fourth-place finisher in District 3-1A, played the District 4-1A champion Harriman Lady Devils on their home court. The Lady Bulldogs came out blazing and took an early 10-4 lead. With Skyler Johnson hitting three baskets, the Lady Devils fought back to a 10-10 tie at the end of the first period. Harriman’s offense kicked into gear as four players put a total of 13 points on the board in the second, while Wartburg could only muster eight points. Harriman led 23-18 at the half.
Wartburg came out in a zone defense that temporarily stymied the Lady Devils, holding them to six points in the third. Wartburg tied the game 23-23 at 6:29 in the third on a 3-point basket by Elizabeth Keathley but could only score one additional basket in the final six minutes of the third. The Lady Devils outscored Wartburg 18-10 in the final period for a 47-35 victory. Harriman moves on to play District 3-1A runner-up Coalfield Monday evening in semifinal action at 7:30 pm at Harriman.
With their losses, the season ends for Oakdale, Sunbright, and Wartburg. Coalfield is the only Morgan County girls team remaining in Region 2-1A competition