GIRLS BASKETBALL

Crockett County girls knock off Chester County in OT

Tim Lownsdale

USA TODAY NETWORK -- Tennessee

Crockett County's Elli Pratt (10) goes to the free-throw line with her team up by six and 0:03 left on the clock in overtime during the Region 7-AA quarterfinals against Chester County at Crockett County High School in Alamo, Tenn., on Friday.

ALAMO — Getting off to a hot shooting start wasn't a problem for the Crockett County girls basketball team.

The Lady Cavaliers jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half, but a scoreless second quarter allowed Chester County to get back in the game.

But it was in overtime when Elli Pratt and Kayla Bond combined to score all 11 points as Crockett County know knocked off Chester County 51-44 at Crockett County to advance to the Region 7-AA semifinals.

The Lady Cavaliers (20-10) will play South Side on Monday at 7:30 p.m. at South Gibson.

Crockett County's Elli Pratt (10) drives against Chester County during the Region 7-AA quarterfinals.

Crockett County’s Pratt had an opportunity to win the game for Crockett County in regulation with the game tied at 40.

“We had a chance to win it in regulation in the final seconds, but Elli’s shot rolled right off the front of the rim,” Crockett head coach Kayla Irvin said. “I thought we did a great job of setting ourselves for that opportunity; the shot just didn’t go in for us.

Crockett County started the game on a 10-0 run and built up a 14-point lead at the end of the first quarter behind 12 first-quarter points from Pratt. Pratt finished with a game-high 25 points.

“Elli has been consistent for us all year and really carried us in that first quarter,” Irvin said. “She came through huge for us tonight.”

The hot shooting went away for Crockett County in the second quarter as Chester County outscored Crockett County 13-0 in the quarter. Chester’s Paige Pipkin led the Eaglettes scoring seven of the team’s 13 points and coming up with several steals and blocks.

But Chester County still trailed at halftime 21-20.

“I thought we were getting some good looks in the second quarter,” Irvin said. “Our shots just weren’t falling.

“I told our girls at halftime that we were going to have to grind out the second half if we were going to win.”

The second was a grind for both teams as Crockett County won the third quarter and Chester County won the fourth quarter sending the game to overtime.

Crockett County pulled away in overtime behind big free throws from Pratt and some big buckets from Bond.

“I feel like we dictated overtime, and it helped us when Pipkin fouled out,” Irvin said. “Kayla Bond did an outstanding job for us in overtime coming up with some big rebounds and scoring on second-chance opportunities."

Chester County's Paige Pipkin (25) fights through defense from Crockett County's Anya Patterson, left, and Abbie Ward (2) during the Region 7-AA quarterfinals at Crockett County High School.

Chester County’s Pipkin fouled out with a minute left in overtime with her team down two.

“We are very excited about getting to play South Side,” Irvin said. “They haven’t lost a game all year, and I expect my kids to respond to the challenge. We are going to come back in and be prepared for a big game.”