Lady Cats Win Quarterfinal Game at State, Fall Short in Final Four

Against Gordonsville last Thursday in State Tournament action, Lady Cat Ava Ashley opened the game with 7 straight points. A Presley Daniel offensive rebound and put-back made the score Gordonsville 15 – Lady Cats 14 at the end of the first quarter. With 4:21 left in the second, an Ashley 3 gave the Lady Cats the 18 – 17 lead. They led 20 – 19 at the half. Ashley opened the second half with a 3 to make the margin 4, 23 – 19. The Lady Cats were on top 27 – 24 at the end of three. Gordonsville tied the game to open the final quarter, hitting a three. The score went back and forth and was tied at 32 all with 1:06 left. Presley Daniel put the Lady Cats on top to stay as she nailed 2 free throws, to make it 34 – 32. The Lady Cats were solid at the line, making 4 more to take 38 – 32 win.

The Lady Cats advanced to take on the Middleton Lady Tigers in the semi-finals on Friday night. Mary-Grace Littleton opened the scoring for the Lady Cats two minutes into the contest. The Lady Cats led 10 – 4 at the end of the first quarter. Middleton turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter as the Lady Cats managed only 7 second quarter points and trailed 20 – 17 at the half. In the third, Middleton went up by 9, 28 – 19. A Presley Daniel basket with 1:59 left in the period made the score 29 – 25. They trailed 31 – 27 at the end of three. Turnovers plagued the Lady Cats as they turned it over on their first possession of the fourth. Middleton went up by 10, 38 – 28, halfway through the quarter. The Lady Cats tried to come back, but fell, 44 – 39.

Presley Daniel led the Lady Cats with 18 points, going 7 of 10 from the field. She had 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Ava Ashley hit for 15 points and was 10 of 11 from the foul line. She had 7 boards and 3 steals. Mary-Grace Littleton scored 6 points and had 2 rebounds, a steal, and 2 assists. Kate Brison had a rebound, a steal, and an assist, and Kaybree Carroll had a rebound and an assist. Adaline Odle had a steal and an assist. The Lady Cats suffered from 21 turnovers and were out-rebounded 19 – 16. They were 14 of 17 from the line compared to Middleton's 6 of 8.

Congrats to the Lady Cats on a great season!