The girls' game was one of halves, with the Lady Rockets commanding a slight lead in the first half and the Lady War Eagles coming back to lead most of the second. For fans however, the game was one in which they stood to cheer their respective squads down to the final seconds. Despite the outcome, both teams played with determination and desire. The competitiveness was evident throughout as they fought for loose balls, made steals and scored when needed. The biggest difference in the game was the number of free throws shot and made. The Lady War Eagles, they went to the line eight times and hit eight of 16 attempts. The Lady Rockets went to the line 13 times and hit seven of 22 attempts. The Lady War Eagles Angelica Blair hit two three-pointers while Clarksburg's Erin Grant hit one.

Brittany Luther led the Lady War Eagles with 11 total points although she spent part of the first half and most of the second on the bench in foul trouble. Grant led the Lady Rockets with 18 points. Clarksburg led 8-6 after one and 16-14 at intermission. The teams scored evenly in the third quarter with the Lady Rockets maintaining their two-point edge at the end of three, 25-23. However the final period, with seven of 12 hits at the charity stripe, the Lady War Eagles outscored the Lady Rockets 11 to six in the final period for the victory. Both teams lost players in the final period when they fouled out.

In the final period, Madison Lane came out to score two and tie the game at 25, but the Lady Rockets regained the lead with the next three points, West Carroll tied the game again at 28 and at 29. After taking a 30-29 lead, the Lady War Eagles were able to maintain an edge and won the contest 34-31.

Additional scoring for the two teams was as follows: West Carroll: Blair: 9, Emily Hall: 5, Shante Emerson: 4, Lane: 3, Cierra King: 2. Clarksburg: Brooke Cary: 4, Jessica Galloway: 4, Anna Kelly: 3, Whitney Walker: 2.

The Rebels and Mustangs both appeared to be a bit rusty in the first quarter of their contest as neither hit very well. By the end of the first period, Huntingdon led 6-5. The second quarter however, the Rebels were hitting well and outscored the Stangs 15-3, took a 20-9 lead into intermission and did not allow the Mustangs to get any closer than six points which was late in the fourth period. After three, McKenzie led 25-16 and they won the contest 33-24.

Ball control helped the Rebels in gaining their first championship since 2001. The reigning champion Mustangs played hard and got their shots, but was unable to get the points they needed in the early part of the contest. The Rebels were almost perfect in the second period when they had their 15-3 run. Good ball control in the third quarter maintained an edge, but the stubborn Stangs came back in the final period in a final push to retain their championship by stealing the ball and making a couple of key shots, but ultimately, both teams scored eight points and the Rebels won the game.

Derek Carr led the Rebels with 11 points and Brandon Taylor the Stangs with 12. Additional scoring was as follows: Rebels: Shabree Payne 9, Parker Jones 7, Charles Lawrence 4, Jessie Townes 2. Mustangs: Justin Hampton 5, Derrick Johnson 5, Kevin Smothers 2.

Maybe other people have other ideas...like McKenzie, for example.

The Lady Rebels torched Camden early, sprinting to a 17-4 lead and taking an all-important 65-41 victory. The victory improves McKenzie to 3-0 in district play while Camden drops to 1-2.

"That puts us in pretty good shape," said McKenzie coach Dan Ridley.

"Now everybody is shooting at us."

Camden recently suffered a setback to Milan, a team that the Lady Rebels defeated last Tuesday evening.

Senior Brittany Russell got everything rolling for the Lady Rebs when she deposited two big triples early in the game. She helped spark a 15-0 run which essentially did in the Lady Lions. McKenzie took a 23-8 lead in the first quarter. To put this carnage in perspective, Camden needed three full quarters to match what McKenzie did in the first eight minutes.

Not only did the Lady Rebels shoot well, they had a stellar defensive outing as well.

"This is as good as we've been in a long time," said Ridley. "Defense keyed it for us."

McKenzie held Camden to a mere six field goals in the first half and held a 29-27 rebounding edge for the game.

"We executed tonight," Ridley said. "We went from defense to transition and our post players did the bulk of our scoring."

Junior Hope Wyder and senior Renee Crawley each had 18 points for McKenzie as the Lady Rebel guards fed the post time and again.

After Russell's two triples, Crawley took over inside for six points.
Anna Trull buried a three bomb and Wyder added a three-point play the old fashion way and McKenzie had production in a variety of ways from a variety of players.

And this was only the first quarter. McKenzie's defense was stifling in the second quarter and Camden managed only two of 14 shooting. As a result, the Lady Rebels went inside again. Wyder scored 12 points in the second and McKenzie broke to an 18-4 run and a 41-12 lead. In the second frame, McKenzie forced 12 Camden turnovers, 20 for the half.

Ridley was right: defense did key the outcome.

"Our guards did a great job, every one of them," the coach said. "Our post people finished and the defense keyed it all."

McKenzie started a 10-2 run in the third frame and the Lady Rebels led by as many as 37 points. From there, McKenzie and Camden allowed some of its reserves to see significant playing time.

Erin Latandresse led the Lady Lions with 11 points. Carmen Medina added 10 and Melissa Guajardo tossed in nine. Camden was 17-61 shooting with 28 total turnovers.

Courney Wiggins had eight points while Anna Trull added seven, Russell with six and Sarah Hartz with five. Megan Hutchison scored two and Jill Taylor scored one. McKenzie was 24-46 from the floor and turned the ball over 26 times.

"This was about as well as we have played," said Ridley.

In other action:

McKENZIE GIRLS 45, MILAN 30 at McKenzie - The Lady Rebels sputtered at the start, but finished strong in earning their second district victory.

The Lady Rebs outscored Milan 11-3 in the final frame for the win. Junior Hope Wyder led McKenzie with 19 points. Renee Crawley scored 11 and Anna Trull tossed in seven. Senior Sarah Hartz scored four while Brooke Cole and Brittany Russell each scored two.

Teena Carter was tops for Milan with 12 points. Gretchen Seyerle had eight.

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