Cavs, Rossview fall to FHS
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Emily Gonzalez, Lady Bulldogs senior guard, left, tries to spark the Lady Dawgs’ offense despite defensive pressure from Annie Priest, FHS freshman guard. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
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Farragut All-State Tournament honorees, from left, are senior wing Ashlyn Sheridan, junior guard Annalise Bishop and senior wing Avery “Ace” Strickland. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
MURFREESBORO — It was a disappointing finish against Bearden, obviously — but what a ride.
Jason Mayfield’s Farragut Lady Admirals (28-9) didn’t just settle for earning the program’s first state tournament appearance in school history — they went and beat a 27-3 team, Rossview, and a 32-1 team, Cookeville, by 12 points each, to earn a Silver Ball trophy as Class 4A state runner-up after reaching the championship game Saturday evening, March 12, in MTSU’s Murphy Center.
Starting senior wing Avery “Ace” Strickland again cranked up two big games, starting with 17 points and seven rebounds against Rossview in a 50-38 state quarterfinal win Wednesday, March 9.
She then came back even stronger offensively, scoring 31 against the CHS Lady Cavaliers (nine rebounds) to lead Farragut’s 65-53 victory. Ace scored 14 against Bearden.
“This has been our goal, all four of us (seniors),” senior wing Ashley Sheridan said, fighting back tears. “Just the fact that we got here and we did it together just means the world to me.”
Senior wing Keeleigh Rogers not only scored 10 in the quarterfinal and 11 in the semis — she also had eight rebounds and two blocks against Rossview, then grabbed three steals against the Lady Cavs.
As for a most memorable state moment, “Probably the first game against Rossview,” Rogers said. “Nobody thought we would get to state.”
Annalise Bishop, junior All-State Tourney point guard, scored 13 against Cookeville while also nailing three key 3-pointers versus the Lady Bulldogs. “Annalise really stepped up in this tournament,” Lady Admirals head coach Jason Mayfield said.
McCall Willis, starting senior post, grabbed six rebounds against Cookeville. “We knew we were going to be here, but no one else did,” she said.
While pulling down six rebounds in each of the first two state games, Sheridan scored 11 versus Bearden and eight against Rossview.
