Fourth time is for region title: Lady Ads-BHS
FHS girls end Oak Ridge’s season; Lady Dawgs roll
BEARDEN — Exactly a year ago, Farragut High School’s girls’ basketball team ended its season with a loss to archrival Bearden in the semifinal round of the Region 2-4A Tournament.
Monday night, Feb. 26, on Bearden’s home court, FHS — the second seed from District 4-4A — was again in a regional semi, this time against Oak Ridge, the top seed in District 3-4A.
A win would not only guarantee the Lady Admirals a spot in the Sectionals, but would give them a chance at redemption against the Lady Bulldogs.
Mission accomplished.
In a less-than-pretty tale-of-two-halves game characterized largely by fouls and turnovers, FHS (20-11) used a strong third quarter to build a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The final was 48-36.
“It took us a while to get adjusted,” FHS head coach Jason Mayfield said. “Once we got adjusted we got back at it.”
The regional championship against the Lady Bulldogs (29-2) — the fourth match-up this year between the two — begins at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 28, at BHS. Earlier in the evening, Bearden beat Maryville 67-48.
Up 9-2 early, Farragut trailed 13-11 after one, as the Lady Wildcats (21-8) scored 10 straight to lead 12-9.
Despite poor free-throw shooting, the Lady Admirals led 21-20 at half. Freshman Regan Sheridan’s three just before the buzzer created the lead. “It was a lack of focus, and nerves too,” FHS sophomore wing KJ McNealy said about her team’s first half.
Up 23-22 with 6:34 left in the third, Farragut scored seven straight to lead 30-22 en route to a 33-26 lead after three. ORHS wouldn’t get closer than six the rest of the game.
“We started handling the ball correctly and not turning the ball over,” Lady Admirals junior guard Annie Priest said.
McNealy led Farragut with 16 points, and was big on the boards. Point guard Jaci Neubert scored 12 and Priest added 11. Ze’Yana Stewart led ORHS with 10.
