Getting another chance
- Updated: February 20, 2018
Spring Garden captures another Northeast Regional title, eliminates Skyline for fourth straight trip to BJCC
By Roy Mitchell
Special to East Alabama Sports Today
JACKSONVILLE – Using a stingy defense and taking advantage of a post mismatch, Spring Garden advanced to the Class 1A Final Four in Birmingham for the fourth year in a row with a resounding 68-39 victory over Skyline Monday.
Last year the top-ranked Lady Panthers lost in the title game with no time left on the clock. It’s obvious they want redemption.
“All year we’ve been prepared for the next game, but we kept that game (last year’s finals loss) in our mind,” Lady Panthers’ guard Kerstin Bryant said. “That’s what’s been motivating us every practice. We want to be in the state championship game. We want another chance to redeem ourselves.”
Spring Garden (30-3) missed early shots, but its defense picked up the slack, forcing three turnovers in Skyline’s first four possessions. Eventually, the Lady Panthers’ offense got its groove back and Bryant, Neely Welsh and Macy Reedy connected from behind the arc. Tournament MVP Tiyonna Rogers scored on a post move and a transition lay-up and after the first quarter Spring Garden was starting to pull away 19-4.
By halftime the Lady Panthers were in full control, leading 32-13.
Skyline (24-7) chipped away, however, and cut its deficit to 13 by the middle of the third quarter until Broome and Rogers gave the Lady Panthers a boost.
Skyline began having trouble defending Broome, fouling her several times. The real difference-maker, though, was Rogers. Skyline simply had no answer for the senior post.
Rogers seemed to score at will on drives from the high post, backing down defenders under the goal. She led all scorers with 33 points and all rebounders with 13. Her paint prowess propelled the Panther lead back to 45-25 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, Skyline pulled off of their press. Caitlin Ledwell connected with two 3-pointers in the frame, but it was too little too late. Spring Garden continued to look to Rogers in the paint, and the Lady Panthers knocked down 9 of 13 free throws late to advance.
Roy Mitchell is a Cherokee Herald Sports Correspondent.
CLASS 1A GIRLS
Spring Garden 68, Skyline 39
SPRING GARDEN (28-3) – Tiyonna Rogers 13-18 7-9 33, Kerstin Bryant 3-6 2-2 10, AJ Broome 2-3 4-11 8, Payton McGinnis 2-7 0-0 5, Macy Reedy 2-5 0-0 5, Chloe Jarrett 2-2 0-0 4, Neely Welsh 1-2 0-2 3, Suzie Carter 0-0 0-0 0, Breanna Rogers 0-0 0-0 0, Madison Jennings 0-0 0-0 0, Abbey Steward 0-0 0-0 0, Alexis Adkison 0-0 0-0 0, Kristin Tierce 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-43 13-24 68.
SKYLINE (25-7) – Catlin Ledwell 8-19 0-3 19, Bailee Usrey 2-8 1-2 5, Gracie Stucky 2-4 1-2 5, Tabitha Gifford 1-2 2-4 4, Summer Buckner 1-5 0-0 2, Madison Smith 1-7 0-0 2, Baleigh Martin 1-2 0-0 2, Alli McAllister 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Sanders 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-47 4-11 39.
Spring Garden 19 13 13 23 — 68
Skyline 4 9 12 14 — 39
3-point goals: Spring Garden 5-13 (Bryant 2-5, Reedy 1-2, Welsh 1-1, McGinnis 1-5); Skyline 3-17 (Ledwell 3-7, Usrey 0-2, Stucky 0-1, Buckner 0-3, Smith 0-3, Martin 0-1). Rebounds: Spring Garden 34 (T. Rogers 13); Skyline 26 (Usrey 7). Total fouls: Spring Garden 12, Skyline 18. Officials: Joe Pike, Harlon Hutcheson, Octavious Hamilton.
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