By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – Sand Rock girls basketball coach Lisa Bates could hardly wait to shake the Spring Garden Lady Panthers’ hands following their sixth straight Cherokee County Tournament championship at Richard Lindsey Arena on Saturday.
Spring Garden delivered a 77-26 drubbing of the Lady Wildcats, and Bates knew that was officially the last time she would have to game plan for Lady Panther seniors Ace Austin, Maggie Jarrett, Olivia Law, Kristen Lewis and Avery Steward.
“I was told she told every senior ‘Bye,’” Spring Garden head coach Ricky Austin said with a smile. “I know that feeling. When Taylor Burt graduated, I was tickled the night we played them the last time. I know what she’s saying. I appreciate her respect for our players.”
Ace Austin and Jarrett, who led Class 1A top-ranked Spring Garden (26-1) with 23 points apiece, also appreciated the lighthearted gesture from Bates.
“I think it was just a little bit of joy and reminiscing back on the days of how hard we’ve fought against each other,” Ace said, who has been a starter every year since the county championship six-peat began. “I have a ton of respect for Mrs. Bates. We’ve had some battles, not just regular season, but in the county tournament. You know she’s going to bring everything she has. It’s always fun to play against them in county.”
“I have a bunch of respect for Lisa and all the times we’ve played them over the years in our careers,” added Jarrett, who’s started in five of the past six county championship years. “We’ve gone through battles against them.”
And it was shaping up to be a battle early on in Saturday’s championship.
Class 2A, No. 3 Sand Rock (17-6) held its own through the first quarter, which is something not many teams can say against the Lady Panthers this season.
Spring Garden only held a 19-11 advantage after one, but then the switch flipped on in a hurry for the Lady Panthers.
A 20-4 run in the second turned the game into a rout at 39-15. Spring Garden came out of the locker room after halftime and outscored Sand Rock 21-10 to take a 60-25 edge after three quarters.
“We had a big score and made it look easy, but this hard work goes way back,” Coach Austin said. “It didn’t happen today or yesterday. These girls have done a lot to make something happen.
“It’s pretty incredible. This county’s got good basketball in it, good coaches in it. To be able to do that (win six straight county championships) is a testament to the type kids we have and how well they respond to coaching. It’s something that’s hard to do. It’s hard to win these things.”
Coach Austin credits Sand Rock and Bates for some of the Lady Panthers’ success.
“Sand Rock and Lisa Bates are the reason Ace has improved as a player and our team has improved,” he said. “It’s what they bring when we play. You better be ready to play. We respect that. I appreciate Lisa doing that (in the handshake line following the game).”
Ace Austin also collected nine rebounds, eight assists, five steals and a block for the Lady Panthers. Jarrett added 10 boards, five steals, two assists and a block.
Law accounted for 10 points, six boards, four assists, two steals and a block. Montana Highfield had nine points. Lewis and Steward finished with six points apiece.
Maddie Clanton led Sand Rock with seven points. Peyton Johnson, Macey Pruitt and Kaylee Burns each finished with six points.
With another Cherokee County title under their belts, Spring Garden can now turn its attention to a recently scheduled matchup with Class 6A, No. 2 Hazel Green. The two girls basketball titans will play on Ricky Austin Court at Dale Welsh Gymnasium in Spring Garden on Tuesday at 6 p.m., weather permitting.
“I don’t like games right after county championships. I usually take two days before we play, but this game offered us an opportunity,” Coach Austin said. “You can’t have a hangover from a county championship after a game like we’re going to have on Tuesday night in our gym. Me and (Hazel Green) Coach (Tim) Miller both talked about win or lose, we’ve won because we made this thing happen. It means a lot for basketball. It means a lot for girls basketball.”
Cold temperatures and the potential for wintry weather is in the forecast for Tuesday, but Coach Austin said he and Miller have agreed to play Saturday at Spring Garden if necessary.
Ace Austin, who was nominated as a player for McDonald’s All-American Games earlier this week, said hype for the Hazel Green game has been brewing since it was announced last Monday evening.
“No matter where you go, somebody is saying something about that game,” she said. “I’ve had people text and say something, tons of people in the crowd saying stuff. Social media has blown up about it.
“We know it’s a big game. Now we’re going to focus on that game and just do our best.”
Junior Varsity Girls Championship
Cherokee County 27, Sand Rock 18
CENTRE – Sofie Dawson scored a game-high 12 points to lead the Cherokee County junior varsity girls basketball squad to a 27-18 victory over Sand Rock to win the JV girls county championship on Saturday at Richard Lindsey Arena.
Mattie Green added nine points for the Lady Warriors.
Hadlie Weaver led Sand Rock with seven points. Macy Martin and Alyvia Browder both finished with four points.
Cherokee County jumped out to a 12-0 first-quarter lead and held an 18-7 advantage at halftime. The Lady Warriors led 23-7 at the end of three quarters.
