Leake reaches MPSA finals
By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Feb. 28, 2004
CLINTON What was scheduled to be four quarters of basketball between Pillow Academy and Leake Academy in the MPSA Overall Girls State Tournament turned out to be more like four rounds before Leake delivered the knockout in the final minutes.
Greggina Tadlock overcame a bloody eye in the fourth quarter to lead the Rebelettes to a 54-49 victory to propel Leake into the championship game.
Leake will take on Brookhaven Academy in the championship today at 1 p.m.
"I thought (Greggina) Tadlock played tremendously," said Leake coach Doyle Wolverton. "She had a cut over her eye. It was kind of like being in a heavyweight fight. We put a little bit of Vaseline over that eye and just kept playing. She was just tremendous at the end."
The second-seeded Class AA Rebelettes came through the physical contest over the top-seeded Class AAA Lady Mustangs to move into a rematch of the Class AA state championship game.
"It was a battle," said Wolverton of Friday's semifinal. "We knew it was going to be. We played them earlier in the year and they are a tremendous team."
The Rebelettes picked up the win despite scoring just seven points in the third quarter and four points in the third. Leake used pressure defense and took advantage of a few Pillow mistakes in the fourth quarter to take the come-from-behind victory.
"I thought at one time we were dead in the water," said Wolverton. "We went down about 10 or 12 and then we put the press on and picked up a few turnovers. I thought that changed the whole complexion. I think they got a little nervous."
The Rebelettes jumped out to a 16-2 lead with 1:37 left to play in the first quarter by using strong defensive pressure. From there, however, Leake struggled to put points on the board.
The Lady Mustangs went on an 8-0 run to close out the first and cut the lead to 16-10.
Leake was only able to score seven points in the quarter but held on for a 23-20 lead at half.
The third quarter was even worse on the offensive end for the Rebelettes. Leake was unable to hit a field goal in the entire quarter and scored just four points from the free throw line.
Pillow tied the game in the opening minutes of the third and stretched the lead to as many as 12 points in the third.
Leake came back with great defense led by Allison Phillips and cut the lead down to four points in the first three minutes of the final quarter.
Pillow was able to stretch the lead back out to five points later in the quarter. The Rebelettes were finished, though, and answered back.
Reagan Dees hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 46-43. Leake stole the inbounds pass and Tadlock scored on an offensive rebound to cut the lead to one point.
After a Lady Mustang free throw, Kristin Caldwell came through with a bucket to tie the game.
Caroline Dees gave Leake the lead with a bucket with 1:48 left to play, but Stribling White tied the game on the other end for Pillow with 1:28 left.
Tadlock again came through in the clutch for Leake and scored to make the score 51-49.
After Pillow failed to score, Caroline Dees hit a free throw and the Rebelettes sealed the victory with a basket by Caldwell in the final seconds.
Caldwell finished with 18 points for Leake in the win while Tadlock scored 16 and Reagan Dees added 12.
Meagan Webb led Pillow with 12 points while White scored 11.
