Macon County 73, Northview Academy 59: Tigerettes advance back to Class AA championship

MURFREESBORO – Macon County is one step closer to winning its first state championship.

The Tigerettes beat Northview Academy 73-59 at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center to reach the Class AA girls basketball championship game. 

Macon County (25-6) will face Grainger (35-3) on Saturday at 2 p.m. 

It was a balanced scoring effort for the Tigerettes who had four players finish in double figures.

Abby Shoulders led the Tigerettes with 22 points and was 16-of-17 at the free-throw line. Middle Tennessee State signee Jaelynn Gregory fouled out with 18 points while Saranda Woodson scored 13 points and Abby Ward added on 12.

Northview Academy's Campbell Penland led the Lady Cougars with 22 points and Alexis Bates added on 20 for the Lady Cougars. 

Northview Academy clawed its way back into the game from a 15-point deficit twice in the second half but could never pull any closer than six points. 

Macon County's ability to get to the free-throw line and convert proved to be the biggest difference in the game. The Tigerettes made 31 of their 33 attempts at the line while Northview Academy was 10-of-13 at the line. 

Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com or 731-343-4923. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7.