Henry County stops Lady Hawks' district title run

Rossview girls coach Justin Woods has a few seniors he can lean on when times get a little tough.

He'll have to lean on them a little more when Friday's Region 5-AAA tournament rolls around after Rossview's three-year District 10 tournament run came to a halt with Henry County's 48-44 victory Tuesday night in the title game at Northwest High School.

"We have girls like Karle (Pace) and Semajia (Ogburn) who have been here before," Woods said. "We've lost in the region championship and went on to play well after that. They know what it takes. We'll ask them to step up as leaders and we'll get OK. We'll get past this."

Rossview's focus must shift as immediately as the final second ticked off the clock Tuesday night. The Lady Hawks (18-10) will play at 7 p.m. Friday against Beech, a team Rossview beat 39-35 in the John Deere State Farm Thanksgiving Day Classic in Lebanon.

"We know what Beech has and they are very good," Woods said. "They've been on a bit of a hot streak lately so we have to just forget about (Tuesday's) game and get ready."

Beech has won 10 of its last 15 games and will be looking to send Rossview home early.

The Lady Hawks have been playing the past couple of weeks without key guard Macy Rippy, who has an ankle injury. Tuesday, Ogburn was nursing an ankle injury but played much of the game. Ogburn should be ready Friday while Woods was optimistic Rippy could play.

Rippy's offense certainly could have helped the Lady Hawks against Henry County. Despite a tenacious defense that held the Lady Patriots to just two points after the first quarter, that emotional intensity began to wane in the second quarter as Rossview rushed its offensive possessions into turnovers. That allowed Henry County time to settle and take control of the game.

At one point midway through the third quarter, The Lady Patriots held a 12-point lead. But Rossview clawed back within four with just under three minutes left. Henry County was shaky down the stretch at the foul line but its interior defense, anchored by 6-foot-3 center Natiya Jumper, made life miserable for the Lady Hawks.

Henry County's Elizabeth Wood hit four 3-pointers for 16 points, and District 10 regular season MVP Gracie Osborne — who had 36 points in the district semifinals on Saturday — also finished with 16.

Pace led Rossview with 16 while Ogburn added 13 in the loss.

"It's just time to regroup and start again," Woods said. "I have confidence in those girls."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports. 

ALL DISTRICT

Rossview: Karle Pace, Macy Rippy, Semajia Ogburn, Madisyn Hash.

Clarksville High: J.K. Cummings, Deja Walls,

Kenwood: Shay Armstead

Northwest: Akiya Brown

West Creek: Diamond Jones

Northeast: Sh'Niya Horn