By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SPRING GARDEN – The Spring Garden Lady Panthers rebounded from their only loss of the basketball season Tuesday with a 72-16 whipping of Coosa Christian in the Class 1A, Area 12 girls tournament on Tuesday.
Libby Brown sank seven 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to lead the top-ranked Lady Panthers (30-1). She also had four rebounds, three assists, two steals and blocked shot.
Maggie Jarrett delivered 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go along with six boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Chloe Rule came away with 12 points, five rebounds, four steals, four blocks and an assist.
Ace Austin added nine points, eight assists, five rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Kristen Lewis finished with five points, two steals and a block.
Ra’nyiah Dupree led the Lady Conquerors with seven points. Natalie Delp finished with five points.
Spring Garden jumped out to a 24-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised to a 51-8 advantage at halftime. The Lady Panthers led 65-13 after three quarters.
Spring Garden will now face Cedar Bluff for the area championship on Thursday at 5 p.m. The Lady Tigers won a nail biter over Jacksonville Christian 54-52 in other girls area tournament action on Tuesday.
In Tuesday’s tournament nightcap, Spring Garden’s boys handled Gaylesville by the final of 72-26.
John Welsh and Connor Bates both rang for 16 points for the Panthers (18-7). Bates had a pair of 3-pointers.
John Marq Rogers also had a pair of treys and netted 10 points. Chapel Pope provided seven points. Jake Welsh managed six points and Zane Edwards finished with five points.
Kuper and Kyler Bradley topped the Trojans (7-23) with 11 and 10 points respectively. Kyler Bradley had a pair of 3-pointers.
Spring Garden jumped out on a 13-0 run and led 27-12 after a quarter. The Panthers increased their advantage to 48-21 at halftime and led 61-26 at the end of three quarters.
Spring Garden advances to Thursday’s area championship game at 6:30 p.m., where they will face Cedar Bluff, a 51-48 winner over Jacksonville Christian in other tournament action on Tuesday.
