Lady Ads grab substate trip, beat ORHS
KNOXVILLE — Holding the District 3-4A Tournament MVP to three points while shutting down the Oak Ridge attack for long stretches of the final three quarters, Farragut’s own offensive struggles still produced enough points to advance into sectional play.
Marking the first time the FHS Lady Ads program has earned a substate berth since 2015, Jason Mayfield’s girls (25-7) got past the 3-4A tourney champ Lady Wildcats 40-31 at Bearden High School in Region 2-4A semifinal action Monday night, Feb. 28.
Among the keys, “stop them going right-handed and don’t let them get in the paint,” FHS senior guard Keeleigh Rogers said. Oak Ridge ended its season with a 20-10 record.
Semaj Clark, ORHS standout senior post and district tourney MVP, managed just one basket the entire game, as the Lady Ads defense held Oak Ridge to three points in the second quarter, up 20-16 at the half after trailing 13-12 following one period.
“We really wanted to slow them down and play straight-up defense in the half-court setting,” FHS senior wing Ashlyn Sheridan said.
Again holding the Lady Cats’ offense in check in the third quarter, allowing just two late-period three-point baskets, Farragut took a 29-22 lead in the final eight minutes.
With Oak Ridge closing to within four, 32-28, with less than five minutes to play, the Lady Ads defense forced turnovers and held ORHS to just one shot down the stretch.
Avery “Ace” Strickland, FHS senior wing, led all scorers with 17. Rogers had seven.
