Lady Rams repeat as Central champs

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
Ferbruary 16, 2003
BRANDON When it comes to the Academy Central A Tournament, to be the man, you've got to beat the man. Specifically, you've got to beat the Kemper Academy Lady Rams and that's something that nobody has done in the event over the last two years.
The Lady Rams defeated Prentiss Christian 52-42 Saturday afternoon at University Christian to up their record to 23-10 and claim their second consecutive Central A title. In the girls' consolation game, Winston Academy knocked off Heidelberg Academy 46-43 in overtime. All four teams advance to next week's Academy Class A Tournament at Greenville Christian.
Kemper used six points from Leslie Beach to hold a 10-7 lead after one quarter.
Libby Myers provided a spark off the bench in the second quarter, hitting three 3-point baskets and getting 11 points in the period as Kemper extended its lead to 33-21 by halftime despite making only 7-of-18 free throws in the first half.
Myers has her assignment on Know Your Role Blvd. down pat.
Prentiss Christian, 28-5, used a 12-6 advantage in the third period to draw to within 39-33 with eight minutes left. Kemper's only points in the quarter were a 3-pointer apiece from Myers and Beach.
The Lady Rams used the first two minutes of the final period to take control. Prentiss' 6-foot Alyson Clark fouled out just eight seconds into the period as Eve Darnell drove the lane.
A minute into the quarter, Megan Whitaker split a pair of defenders in the lane for a layup. And with 6:11 on the clock, Darnell canned a pair of free throws for a 43-33 lead. Prentiss could get no closer than seven points the rest of the game as the Lady Rams were able to work the clock. With each passing minute, the inevitable became more obvious.
Kemper got 14 points and five rebounds from Myers; 11 points from Beach; 10 points and six assists from Darnell; eight points, six rebounds, and three assists from Kayla Mosley; and seven points and nine rebounds from Whitaker.
Prentiss got 12 points from Kimberly Speights, 11 from Lauren Griffith, and 10 from Kimberlie Ratcliff.
Prentiss, which is led by former Jeff Davis Academy coach Frank Miller, had lost twice each to Heidelberg and Presbyterian Christian before Saturday's setback.
Winston girls 46
Heidelberg 43 (OT)
Winston outscored the Lady Rebels 9-6 in overtime to take third place Saturday.
Heidelberg led 22-13 at halftime, but a pair of quick 3-pointers got Winston back in the game. The Lady Patriots took a pair of one-point leads before a 3-pointer from Suzanne Lightsey and a layup from Courtney Thomas sent Heidelberg into the final period with a 32-28 advantage.
Leading 35-32 on a free throw by Katie Barnett with 4:33 remaining, the Heidelberg girls wouldn't score again until Thomas got open underneath the basket with seven seconds left to force overtime at 37-37.
In the extra period, Whitney Whiteside got two baskets in the first 72 seconds to put Winston up 41-39. Heidelberg got its final tie at 41-41 on a basket by Jennifer Barnett with 1:38 to go.
Winston then reeled off five points before Thomas scored for Heidelberg at the horn.
Winston, 20-12, got 11 points from Hope Estes, 10 each from Erin Ard and Lindsey Wright, and seven from Whiteside. The Lady Patriots were 6-of-19 at the free-throw line.
Heidelberg, 20-14, got 11 points from Katie Barnett, 10 from Meagan Masters, seven from Lightsey, and six from Thomas. Heidelberg made only 4-of-12 free throws.
Friday's Semifinals
Kemper girls 48
Heidelberg 28
The Lady Rams turned in one of their better games of the year in waxing Heidelberg in the semifinal round.
Kemper led 10-6 after one period and held a 25-17 halftime advantage. The Lady Rams broke the game open in the third quarter as they stretched out to a 42-21 lead.
Kemper, 22-10, got 14 points from Megan Whitaker, 12 from Kayla Mosley, 10 from Eve Darnell, seven from Leslie Beach, and five from Blair Johnson.
Heidelberg, 20-13, got 10 points from Courtney Thomas, eight from Jennifer Barnett, and six from Sarah Windham.
Prentiss Christian 38
Winston girls 32
Winston led 21-20 at the midway break before getting outscored 18-11 in the second half.
The Lady Patriots, 19-12, got nine points from Hope Estes, and seven each from Lindsey Hill and Lindsey Wright.
Prentiss, 28-4, got 10 points apiece from Leigh Martin and Lauren Griffith.
Winston boys 60
CM&I 57
The Patriots shocked the defending Academy Overall champions to advance to Saturday night's finals with Heidelberg.
Winston led 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, entered halftime knotted at 24-24, then took a 38-35 lead into the final period. The Patriots led by as many as seven points in the fourth quarter.
Winston, 20-7, was led by Justin Eaves' 25 points. Joe Buck Peterson added 13, Jon Duncan 10, and Brandon Jennings seven.
CM&I, 22-8, got 23 points from Landon Veal and 14 from Adrian Carpenter.
Heidelberg boys 53
Wayne 42
The Rebels got 16 points from Dusty Bass and 15 from Blake Bass in taking Friday's semifinal win.
Heidelberg, 25-6, trailed 12-9 after one period before taking a 28-23 lead into halftime. The Jaguars got to within 37-33 to start the fourth quarter.
The Rebels also got eight points from Brannon Sims.
Wayne, 13-11, got 21 points from Patton Stanley and 10 from Garet James.