Scrappy Lady Pats eliminated from regionals

Basketball season may have ended for the Henry County High School girls’ team with a loss in the semifinals of the Region 7-4A Tournament played on Monday in Clarksville, but the Lady Patriots didn't go down without putting up a fight.

A much bigger Rossview Lady Hawks squad posted a 49-45 victory over the scrappy Henry County squad on Monday at Northwest High School. Rossview (21-9) is the No. 2 seed from District 13-4A while the Lady Patriots were the No. 1 seed from District 14-4A.

The loss closed the Lady Patriots’ season with a 20-10 record. Henry County won both the regular-season District 14-4A championship with an 8-0 run through the district schedule and captured the district tournament title.

Patriot head coach Cliff Curd has praised his team's effort against Rossview on social media.

“I could not be more proud of our team and our seniors. Our seniors are terrific leaders on and off the court and our young players were terrific followers. Fajona (Sneed), Bayleigh (Thompson) and Noe (Wilkerson), thank you for your contributions and commitment to the Lady Patriot basketball team. You three hold a special place in my heart,” Curd wrote.

Lady Patriot assistant coach Renae Lassiter also said on social media that Sneed, Thompson and Wilkerson did a great job guiding this team.

“The Lady Patriots played their hearts out tonight against a much bigger Rossview squad. They battled till the very end. Even though they came up a little short on the scoreboard, they are winners. What an incredible season for a team that had only one returning player with much varsity experience (Thompson). I am so proud of them,” Lassiter said.

Henry County had opened the region tournament with a 57-17 victory over Kirkwood on Feb. 22 at Gamlin Gymnasium.

LADY HAWKS 49, LADY PATRIOTS 45

The Lady Patriots roared out to an 18-9 lead in the first quarter of Monday's semifinal game with the Lady Hawks. Breely Peirpoint sank three 3-pointers to provide half of the Lady Patriots’ points. Rossview got six points in the opening frame from Torri James.

Rossview began clawing back into the game in the second quarter with the Lady Hawks posting a 10-8 scoring edge. That cut Henry County’s halftime lead to 26-19. Rossview had five players score baskets in the second quarter. Henry County got 3-point buckets from Olivia Kendall and Thompson.

Henry County’s offense went cold in the third quarter. Rossview put up a 14-5 scoring run to push the Lady Hawks in front 33-31 going into the fourth quarter. Rossview’s rally was fueled by six points from Ellie Hankemeier. Thompson hit her second 3-pointer for Henry County while Na’Kiyah Moore added two free throws.

The Lady Patriots found their offense in the fourth period as Kendall erupted to hit two 3-pointers while scoring nine points, but it wasn’t enough. Rossview finished with a 16-14 scoring edge to make the final score 49-45. Hankemeier scored 10 points for Rossview in the fourth quarter.

Kendall was the Lady Patriots’ top scorer with 15 points while Peirpoint finished with 11 points. Thompson contributed eight points with Wilkerson scoring seven. Both Moore and Sneed added two points.

Rossview’s leading scorer was Hankemeier with 20 points. James added 12 for the Lady Hawks while Madisyn Thomason chipped in seven. Both Ailani Davis and Jai Jordan scored three points. Baylee Williams and Nevaeh Brown hit for two points each. 

LADY PATRIOTS 57, LADY COBRAS 17

Henry County dominated the first-round region game from start to finish at Gamlin Gymnasium on Feb. 22. The Lady Patriots raced out to a 13-4 first-quarter lead thanks to five points from Kendall.

Kendall scored five more points in the second quarter to fuel a 15-6 scoring run by the Lady Patriots. That put Henry County on top 28-10 at halftime.

The Lady Patriots posted a 21-5 scoring edge in the third period to extend the HCHS lead to 49-15. Thompson tossed in eight points.

Henry County finished off the win by claiming an 8-2 scoring advantage in the fourth quarter to make the final score 57-17. Irelynn Beecham sank a 3-pointer for the Lady Patriots in the final period.

Kendall topped the Lady Patriot scoring list with 14 points while Thompson scored 13. Sneed chipped in nine points with Moore scoring seven. Beecham added six points with Wilkerson scoring four points. Both Peirpoint and Annie Grace Snow scored two points.

Kirkwood got eight points from Davia Collins with Alanna Mays scoring four points. Channing Jones had three points and Jordin Moore scored two.