| Obion County’s three girls’ teams could not have done much better to close out 2012.
Win one more game, that’s all.
Obion Central finished runner-up in the Dragon Fire Invitational at Collierville, winning 45-43 over Houston on Friday before falling 63-28 to Columbia on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Union City finished strong in Centerville with a pair of wins in the Above The Rim Christmas Invitational at Hickman County High School.
The Lady Tornadoes knocked off the host school 57-40 on Friday and then claimed fifth place in the eight-team event with a 48-36 triumph over Dickson County on Saturday.
South Fulton finished up an impressive weekend in the Stewart County Christmas Classic by rallying past Cumberland County 52-46 in overtime on Friday and then routing Camden 59-33 on Saturday.
With the calendar flipping to 2013, the Lady Rebels are now 15-4, Union City is 13-3 and South Fulton is 10-4. All three squads will now shift focus to the postseason, just six weeks away, as play resumes later this week with UC hosting Dresden on Thursday and then SF hosting Greenfield and Central visiting Westview on Friday.
Dragon Fire Invitational
OC 45, Houston 43
The Lady Rebels handed Houston its first loss in Friday’s semis to advance to the title game.
Down 18-14 at the half as the Mustangs used a sagging zone defense to collapse on University of Memphis signee Brandi Goodman, Central got a pair of huge 3-pointers from Shannon Wiggins to open the third period and opened up room for Goodman inside.
Goodman finished with 12 of her team-high 16 points over the final two periods.
Wiggins and Paige Hicks added nine points apiece to the winning cause.
Columbia 63, OC 28
The Lady Lions won the championship of the Dragon Fire Invitational, overwhelming OC in the finals.
CHS was dominant throughout the four-day event, winning by 27, 24, 38 and 35 points against overmatched foes.
A run of 11 unanswered points in the second quarter extended a 22-16 Columbia lead to 33-16 at the half vs. Obion Central.
Makayla Timmons made three of her five 3-pointers in that second frame to help CHS pull away.
Both teams put up 10 markers in the third period before the Lady Lions outscored mostly OC reserves 20-2 in the final frame to account for the lopsided margin.
Timmons finished with a game-high 25 points to pace the victors, while teammate Keiana Gilbert added 14 to the winning cause.
University of Memphis signee Brandi Goodman had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Obion Central, which fell to 15-4.
“We went 5-3 during the two week stretch before Christmas and after it, and we played six triple-A teams and against several who were just as big if not bigger than we were,” Central head coach Lyle LaRue said. “Tonight was a humbling experience, but in no way was Columbia a 30-point better team than us.”
Above The Rim Tourney
UC 48, Dickson Co. 36
The Lady Tornadoes had two big quarters compared to one for DC (9-3) to win their second game in the tournament.
After a 10-all deadlock at the end of the first quarter, UC shot out to a 24-17 halftime lead. The Lady Cougars then answered in the third by tying the game again, 30-all by quarter’s end, only to see UC claim an 18-6 advantage in the fourth frame.
Union City had three players in double figures, led by Tory Reedy with 16. Jackie Hudson followed with 15, and Tamara Nettles pitched in 13. Lainey Reed topped the Class AAA Lady Cougars with eight points.
The Lady Twisters knocked down 19 field goals and were 6-of-8 at the free throw line.
UC 57, Hickman Co. 40
Hudson led three Union City players in double figures with 15 points, while Reedy highlighted the team’s improved effort at the free throw line by connecting on all of her 11 tries.
Following a 5-of-13 effort that cost UC in its opening round game against Ensworth, Union City was 13-of-20 at the line against the Lady Bulldogs, which went on to finish last in its own tourney with a 56-45 loss to Waverly on Saturday.
Reedy totaled 13 points, and Kaleigh Bynum scored 12 for the Lady Twisters.
Hannah Pendergrass topped HC (3-9) with 13 points.
Union City blew open the game in the second half, outscoring the Lady ’Dawgs 33-16 over the final 16 minutes after being tied 24-all at the half.
Stewart Co. Tournament
SF 52, Cumberland Co. 46
Missed free throws stymied the Red Devilettes through the first half, but SF began to find the target after intermission to rally for the OT win.
South Fulton completed its comeback by hitting 6-of-8 charities in the extra period, outscoring the Lady Jets 12-6 in that span.
SF trailed 26-14 at the half, scoring only four points in the second quarter, but then turned the tables by outdoing CC 38-20 in the second half and overtime.
Taleeah Cross finished with a game-high 22 points and also grabbed six rebounds, Ka-lon Martin nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, and Laken Haley finished with 11 points.
Makenzie Iles scored 12 points for Cumberland County.
SF 59, Camden 33
The Devilettes earned a breather on the final day and Camden provided it as South Fulton overcame fatigue to grab a 20-6 lead after one period and a 34-21 advantage at the half.
SF surrendered five 3-pointers to the Lady Lions in the first half, quickly becoming tired as a result of its own fullcourt pressure. But, head coach Curt Lee went to a match-up halfcourt defense in the second half and limited Camden to just one trey.
Cross had 20 points and eight boards, Martin posted a double-double this time with 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Haley added 10 points and seven rebounds. Published in The Messenger 12.31.12 |
