The Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes found their offensive groove in the second half of Monday’s 58-27 dominating District 9-AAAA play-in game win over Spring Hill inside of Rick Insell Gymnasium.
Sparked by the much-needed return of starting point-guard Jaz Western, the Eaglettes used a 34-point second half to end the Lady Raiders’ season.
This win also guarantees the Eaglettes a regional quarterfinal game for next week.
Shelbyville was led by Sammie Brown’s 16 points, Jaz Western marked her return with an impressive 15-point outing, and Paige Blackburn hit three triples en route to 13 points of her own.
Spring Hill was led by Alayzia Harrison with nine points and Jz Brashear with eight points. The visitors did not have a scorer reach double-figures.
Brashear was able to keep things close in the first quarter, scoring all eight of both her and her team’s eight points in the quarter as the Eaglettes led 12-8 after one.
The hosts began to extend their lead in the second quarter, thanks in large part to Sammie Brown’s four first-half three-pointers. Blackburn would add one three of her own, and the Eaglettes took a 24-15 lead into the halftime locker room.
In the third quarter, Shelbyville put the clamps down defensively, holding the visitors to six points as the Eaglettes put in 22 of their own to take a commanding 46-21 lead into the final frame. Western and Blackburn combined for 16 of their team’s 22 points, including two threes from Blackburn.
In the fourth quarter, the result was all but in hand, and Shelbyville even outscored Spring Hill 12-6 in the period to secure the 58-27 win.
Spring Hill ends their season at 10-18 (2-8).
The Eaglettes improve to 15-11 (3-7) on the season and move on to take on the district’s top seed, Coffee County, on Saturday, LIVE on WLIJ 98.7 and AM 1580 starting at 1:45 p.m.
