Lady Patriots want more than just being 'participant'

MURFREESBORO – Ten years later, Oakland will return to the TSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.

However, an appearance in MTSU's Murphy Center isn't enough to satisfy the sixth-ranked Lady Patriots.

They want more.

Oakland (26-7) faces Bartlett (22-10) at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Class AAA quarterfinals. It marks the Lady Patriots first state tournament game since 2005 and Bartlett's first since 2008.

"We're not pleased just to be there," Oakland coach Jennifer Grandstaff said. "We don't want to be a participant. We are going in with the mindset that we want to be playing Saturday night (in the championship).

"That's our focus. Our girls are mature enough to understand that."

And that means an intense focus on a Bartlett team that upset Memphis Overton in its sectional to reach the state tournament.

The Lady Panthers are led by 6-foot post Charity Savage, who is considered one of the top prep post players in Memphis. Savage scored 29 of Bartlett's 46 points in the win over Overton. She had a streak at one point this season of 12 straight games with a double-double and had a triple double in the 13th game.

Savage, a junior, will likely be matched up against Oakland 6-1 junior Shelby Gibson, who had 24 points in the Lady Patriots' sectional win over White County. Gibson averaged 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in the regular season.

"It's so exciting to get to go (to state)," Gibson said. "We're going to practice (Tuesday) and grind and see what happens.

"We definitely want to be in that game on Saturday. That's always been the goal."

Oakland senior Abby Wright, an Eastern Kentucky signee, is coming off a 29-point performance against the Warriorettes.

Wright had five 3-pointers in the win over White County. Her outside presence is key for Gibson to have a big day inside.

"We've got to keep our head on straight," Wright said. "We need to just get to Murphy Center and play our game."

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

TODAY'S GAME

No. 6 Oakland (27-6) vs. Bartlett (22-10)

When: 11:30 a.m., today

Where: MTSU's Murphy Center

How much: $10 admission, $5 parking.