By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
JACKSONVILLE – After his Cherokee County Lady Warriors experienced a nightmarish start to their Class 4A Northeast Regional semifinal game at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum, head coach Richard Barton didn’t have much to say to them in the locker room at halftime.
But the words he chose registered with them.
After scoring just four points against Plainview at halftime, Cherokee County won the second half. They outscored the sixth-ranked Lady Bears by 12 points, but their first-half deficit proved too much to overcome in a season-ending 47-36 loss.
“A 27-4 hole is a tough hole to climb out of,” Barton said. “You’ve got to have some pride. It’s 0-0 at that point (in the second half). It’s not about the scoreboard. It’s about going and playing your game. How do you want to be remembered from this game? What are you going to do to make it better? How are you going to respond? That was about it (that was said).”
Lady Warrior junior guard Ellisan Givens, who led the Lady Warriors (24-4) with 14 points and six rebounds, said they took Barton’s words at halftime to heart.
“We came out fired up (in the second half), but at that point, that big of a hole, it’s hard to climb out of,” Givens said. “I don’t think we’ve ever, even in middle school, scored four points in a half. When he said something about pride, that really hit heart.”
Givens had Cherokee County’s lone field goal in the first half, a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the second quarter. Plainview built a 13-1 edge in the first quarter, with Lady Warrior post player Deannia Starr connecting on a free throw with 2:39 left in the first quarter for their only point.
Cherokee County went 0-of-10 from the floor in the first quarter and was 1-of-18 for the first half.
But the second half was a different story.
Behind Barton’s challenge to them in the locker room, the Lady Warriors went on a 16-7 run in the third to cut their deficit to 14 at 34-20. A 3-pointer by Libby Curry with 37 seconds left in the fourth trimmed the margin to single digits at 43-36.
Plainview (29-5) hit four free throws the rest of the way for the final.
“I thought our defense was really locked in the first half, but we knew Cherokee County was a good team. They had a great record so we knew they were going to put up a fight,” Plainview coach Luke Griggs said. “They started making some shots and made it a good ball game. We got to play through some adversity, which is good for us.”
“There aren’t many times where you see Plainview winded like that in the second half,” Barton said. “I think we were 0-for from the 3-point line in the first half. We missed some easy shots around the basket. Things like that against a good team, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities.”
Lauren Jimmerson posted a double-double for Plainview, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She also had five assists and four steals. Piper Anderson added 10 points, four boards and two assists. Sawyer Kate Hulgan had nine points and Taegan Whitmire finished with seven points.
Brooklynn Bruce tallied eight points and a pair of steals for the Lady Warriors. Nevaeh Gaidurgis had six points, nine boards, two assists and two steals. Starr finished with five points and 12 rebounds.
“The second half we were able to break the press a little better, able to slow it down a little bit, able to find Nevaeh in the paint, able to hit down a couple of outside shots,” Barton said. “I know we didn’t shoot it too well, but just being assertive in the second half and being able to apply pressure to them a little bit in the full court, it’s something I wished we would’ve done sooner.”
Plainview advances to the 4A regional final Wednesday against Madison Academy. Cherokee County heads into the offseason to prepare for potentially a third straight regional appearance.
“We know we belong here,” said Barton, who loses just two seniors in Curry and Vivian Connell. “We know we have the talent. We’ve just got to get it out of them. They’ve got to know and believe that they belong here and even further. We’re going to see that (Plainview) team again next year. It’s going to be the same deal. We know that.”
