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WEAKLEY COUNTY INFORMATION

By J. R. Peevyhouse Sports Editor

 The Westview Lady Chargers, hosting their first sub-state game since 1996 (the year the Lady Chargers won the Class AA State Title), made the most of the home-court advantage on Saturday night. With the Westview High School gymnasium filled three-fourths full with Lady Charger fans, the blue and gold girls held off a late Mitchell surge to secure a spot in this week's TSSAA Class AA Girls State Tournament, which begins in Murfreesboro on Wednesday night, with a 77-71 win over the Lady Tigers in sub-state action.
The Lady Chargers (33-5) will play Walker Valley (30-4) in the first round of the TSSAA Class AA Girls State Basketball Tournament at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The Walker Valley Lady Mustangs, Region 3-AA Champions, defeated Hume Fogg 62-40 on Saturday.
After three-pointers from Megan Witherspoon and Latoya Bellamy opened the game for the Lady Chargers, Kimberly Critton nailed a pair of short jumpers to cut the Westview lead to two points with 5:55 left in the opening frame. But, buckets from Cierra Thomas and Dazarae Higgs, along with a pair of free throws from Thomas, countered a Critton jumper to make the score 12-6. Westview extended their lead late in the first quarter as six points from Bellamy supported an 8-0 run by Westview that was snapped by a late jumper from Jelisa Scruggs to make the score 20-11 after one quarter.
The Lady Tigers were able to cut into the Westview lead early in the second frame as a pair of Critton jumpers, along with a Shannon three-pointer, countered three points by Cierra Thomas to cut the Lady Charger lead to 23-18 with 5:23 left in the first half. But, the Lady Tigers aggressive play led to fouls, which sent Thomas and Witherspoon to the line, where both players made good on their attempts. The Lady Charger run continued as Bellamy chipped in four points. Leigh Ricketts capped the 11-0 run with a short jumper that made the score 34-18 with 3:31 left in the first half. After a jumper from Shanka Haney and a pair of free throw from Shanice Sprouce, the Lady Chargers got a 5-0 run, with three points coming from Bellamy. However, the Lady Tigers ended the first half with a 9-2 run that made the score 41-31 at the end of the first half.
The Lady Tigers once again cut into the lead during the third quarter as a three-point play from Critton sparked a 12-4 run that was capped by a Sprouce jumper that cut the Westview lead to 48-45 with 3:42 left in the third frame. Bellamy briefly pushed the Lady Charger lead back to five points, but buckets from Sprouce and Critton cut the lead back to a solitary point moments later. After a pair of Leigh Ricketts free throws, the Lady Tigers grabbed their first lead of the contest after a Critton jumper proceeded a pair of Sprouce free throws. But, that lead was short-lived as three Bellamy free throws gave the lead back to Westview. A Sheena Pitcher bucket at the buzzer pushed the Lady Charger lead to 57-53 at the end of the third quarter.
Though Westview was able to extend its lead early in the final frame, a three-point play from Critton cut the Lady Charger lead to 61-60 with 5:10 left to go in the game. After a Thomas jumper, a pair of Critton layups gave the Lady Tigers the lead with 3:23 left to go in the game. But, like Mitchell's only other lead of the contest, it was short-lived as Witherspoon nailed a three-pointer on the Lady Chargers' next trip down the court. The Lady Tigers kept the Westview lead at one point until a Bellamy jumper sparked a 9-2 run that sealed the win for Westview and sent the Lady Chargers to Murfreesboro.
Bellamy led the way for Westview with 30 points while Thomas added 13. Witherspoon chipped in 11 while Ricketts added 10. Critton paced everyone with 32 points in the loss while Sprouce and Haney each added 10.