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| Westview girls weather Cat rally |
By: Sara Reid — Special to the Weakley County Pres
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Posted: Tuesday, March 3, 2009 2:14 pm
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Out of the way — Westview junior Amber Rechis (right) helped the Lady Chargers advance to the Region 7-AA semifinals with a 23-point effort in their quarterfinal victory over the visiting Fayette-Ware Lady Wildcats on Thursday night.
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When Breanna Pitcher’s 3-point attempt touched nothing but the bottom of the net to end the third quarter, Westview had successfully weathered a Fayette-Ware storm and went on to put the Lady Wildcats away, 63-54, in the Region 7-AA Tournament quarterfinals this past Thursday night in Martin.
Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Lady Chargers jumped out to a commanding lead after one quarter of action, but experienced a prolonged scoring drought in the second that brought the visitors within a bucket at the half. WHS regained the touch in the third, however, and used bonus free throws in the fourth to seal the win.
The victory advanced the Westview girls into a must-win game, a semifinal meeting with the North Side Lady Indians, the District 14-AA champs.
Getting off to a quick start offensively in the first quarter, Westview put six points on the board right off the bat on 3-pointers from Amber Rechis and Jacey Sims. Grace Ann Swaim hit a pair from the line and the Lady Chargers led 8-3, but Fayette-Ware’s Hattie Harris reeled off five straight points and cut the lead to a deuce at 10-8. Westview was ready to stage another run, however, and scored the next nine points to lead 19-8 at the end of one.
Grace Ann Swaim again knocked down two from the line and the Lady Chargers pushed the advantage to 21-8, but Ariel Steven hit two free throws for the Lady Wildcats and started the comeback for the visitors. WHS freshman Caitlin Campbell hit one of two free throws and then the bottom seemingly dropped out for the home team as shots refused to fall.
Fayette-Ware took advantage and cut the lead to four, 22-18, with 2:57 left in the half. Grace Ann Swaim ended the drought with four points and, along with Taylor Swaim hoop, scored the next six points for the Lady Chargers, but the Lady Cats’ defense and strength inside helped them keep pace and at the half Westview led 28-26 after having been outscored 18-9 for the quarter.
Hattie Harris' layup opened the third and tied the contest at 28. Grace Ann Swaim connected for three to put WHS back in front, 31-28. Four straight points from Aja Gibson gave the Lady Wildcats the lead, 32-31, with 5:45 left in the third, but free throws from Rechis and Grace Ann Swaim put the Lady Chargers ahead 35-32. FW cut the gap to one, but Westview closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to lead 44-38 after three.
The Lady Chargers broke loose in the fourth and built a 10-point advantage, 56-46. The visitors did not fade into the background, however. Hattie Harris kept her team close and with 17 seconds remaining, the Lady Wildcats trailed 59-54, but a pair of free throws from both Breanna Pitcher and Rechis put the game to an end and sent the Lady Chargers to the semis.
Rechis led Westview with 23 points. In the game, she scored the 2,000th point of her high school career. Grace Ann Swaim put up 17. Hattie Harris scored 24 for Fayette-Ware.
Region 7-AA Tournament
Quarterfinals
Feb. 26 at Martin
GIRLS
Fayette-Ware (54) — Hattie Harris 24, Aja Gibson 10, Janice Blayde 10, Whitney McNeal 6, Felicity Harris 2, Ariel Steven 2.
Westview (63) — Amber Rechis 23, Grace Ann Swaim 17, Caitlin Campbell 7, Breanna Pitcher 7, Jacey Sims 4, Taylor Swaim 3, Amber Nanney 2.
3-pointers: Fayette-Ware — H. Harris (2), Blayde (2); Westview — Rechis (3), G. Swaim, Sims, Pitcher.
Records: Westview 28-4. |
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