By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
JACKSONVILLE – The Northeast Regional rematch the Cherokee County Lady Warriors have anticipated all basketball season is finally about to happen. This time it will be for the right to go to the Class 4A Final Four.
Third-ranked Cherokee County crushed St. John Paul II on Wednesday by the final of 56-14 for their 24th consecutive victory and 31st win of the season. Top-ranked Plainview also took care of business in decisive fashion on Wednesday with a 52-21 victory over West Limestone.
Plainview defeated the Lady Warriors in last year’s regional semifinal 47-36.
“We know that’s going to be a challenge,” Cherokee County coach Richard Barton said. “We’re looking forward to be able to prep for them, but more importantly work on us, keep doing what we can do to make ourselves better. Ultimately that’s all you can control. We’re going to work on some things we know and saw today we need to get better at.”
One couldn’t ask for a much better start than the Lady Warriors (31-2) had against St. John Paul II on Wednesday. Behind its pressure defense, Cherokee County held the Lady Falcons scoreless the entire first quarter and led 14-0. The Lady Warriors’ pace cooled off in the second quarter. They held a 21-7 advantage at halftime, but their offense picked back up in the third with a 21-6 run to take a 42-13 edge.
“We got in our press a little bit, and that got us going,” Barton said. “We got some steals off that, and we were able to get some easy buckets around the basket. They were really packing it in pretty much the whole game. We kind of knew that was going to be their game plan because we’re strong inside. Our shots weren’t falling like they have been the last few games, but that changed a little bit in the second half.”
“We like to come out fast and we like to press. That helps us get into our game,” Lady Warrior senior point guard Ellisan Givens said. “Our game plan was to come out and pressure them, hopefully get some balls our way in transition.”
Givens led the Lady Warriors with 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Nevaeh Gaidurgis added 14 points, four boards, and two assists.
Deannia Starr contributed eight points and nine rebounds. Taniya Fife had six points. Brooklynn Bruce and Marie Crane both finished with five points.
No Lady Falcon scored more than five points. Annie Tiernan led them with four points.
With St. John Paul II now defeated, the Lady Warriors can focus on their rematch with Plainview. The two teams tip things off on Monday at 4 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum in Jacksonville.
“It’s what we’ve been chasing after this whole season,” Givens said. “We’re not done yet. That’s our goal, getting there and playing in that (championship) game. We’re going to give it our best shot on Monday.”
“Our goal is definitely to finish out the season with a win,” Gaidurgis said.
Added Starr: “I saw them win a state championship in volleyball, so I’m ready for one in basketball.”
