The Lady Tigers went to Englewood looking to do something no women’s basketball team has done from DeKalb County since 1965 – make the state finals. Saturday night they made history, beating McMinn Central in the sub-state 44-42 to punch their ticket to the elite eight in Murfreesboro.
Their nearly three-hour bus trip to McMinn Central High in east Tennessee came after they were beaten by Macon County in the finals of the regional tournament in Crossville last Wednesday, the number-two team in the state sweeping all three meetings this season. That Lady Tigers loss came after upset wins over host Cumberland County and defending state champion Upperman in the regionals leading up to their showdown with Macon. Meanwhile, the 20-13 Chargerettes got to the sub-state after beating the number-one team in the state, Meigs County in the finals of their region tournament in overtime thriller also held last Wednesday.
With a good crowd making the long trip to support the Lady Tigers, DeKalb got out of the gate quick despite being in unfamiliar surroundings. The Lady Tigers had a 10-7 lead at the end of the first, fighting off the tenacious Chargerettes press that began from the opening tip in the Round House on the campus of McMinn Central. However, DeKalb’s shooting cooled in the second while the home team was able to counter with a pair of key three-pointers to grab a 19-17 by half. Maddison Parsley and Lydia Brown led the way in the first half with seven apiece.
Emme Colwell, who didn’t score in the first half, canned the opening shot of the second half, her triple giving the Lady Tigers the lead again at 20-19 just seconds into the third quarter. With their shooting back online, the Lady Tigers took a 32-25 lead midway through the third for their biggest lead of the night but a late run in the third left DeKalb clinging to a 32-30 advantage as they went to the final stanza.
The fourth saw the hosts knot the game on their first possession and follow up with a three pointer, capping a 10-0 run before a Lydia Brown three stopped the bleeding. The Chargerettes held the advantage through most of the fourth, taking their biggest lead of the quarter at the two minute mark when they held a four-point advantage. However, a Kadee Ferrell hoop and harm got the Lady Tigers to within one at the three minute mark. The Lady Tigers would wrestle the lead away as the clock ticked under two and a Ferrell floater gave DeKalb a three point lead at 1:16 to go. They would never reliqunish the lead.
The hosts were able to cut it to two and had a chance to tie the game but missed an open layup. A last second heave went begging and sent to Lady Tigers to the elite eight.
Lydia Brown led DeKalb with 16 with Kadee Ferrell on her heels with 15. Maddison Parsley had seven and Emme Colwell.
With the win, the Lady Tigers will play at MTSU campus in Murfreesboro at a time to be determined.
