TCA goes for 1st state berth since '07 vs. Huntingdon

One decade has passed since the Trinity Christian Academy girls basketball team has reached the Class A state semifinals.

On Saturday, the Lady Lions will try to get one step closer to trying to get back to that stage as they host Huntingdon in a Class A sectional.

TCA played the sectional game in 2007 at Jackson Christian, a neutral site, so this will be the first time that the Lady Lions have hosted this game.

"Playing at home, the girls will be in their comfort zone, and that will hopefully help calm some of the nerves," TCA coach Matt Coble said. "These girls have watched the boys travel for sectional games and struggle to respond, so playing this one at home is important."

Huntingdon is coming off of a loss to Dresden in the Region 7-A championship after beating that team the previous three meetings this season.

"This is a sectional game, a chance to go to state, that is about all you have to say for this team to be motivated," Huntingdon coach Farris Lowery said. "We are excited to play someone other than Dresden in an important game."

TCA was on the brink of elimination by Mitchell in the Region 8-A semifinals, but the Lady Lions came out in the championship game with a new level of intensity.

"They were definitely focused against Middleton," Coble said. "Maybe that was the loss to Middleton in the district tournament or maybe that was having our backs against the wall in the semifinals. They brought the focus and intensity, and I hope that carries over.

Both coaches said that there is one area they are going to have to watch out for to be successful. For Lowery, that is TCA's leader on the floor.

"TCA has great leadership in Brynne Lytle," he said. "They are a complete team with lots of really good players. We are going to have to play well on their floor."

For Coble, that is the inside play of Jesica Keith and Marisa Belew.

"We are going to have to stop their inside game," he said. "Their guards have also been producing and giving them quality points, so they are not just about their post play."

But both coaches said that rebounding will be a key to the game.

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.