Lady Trojans shock Murfreesboro
NORMAN – Parkers Chapel's defense stood up to the challenge again. The Lady Trojans slowed down top-seeded Murfreesboro 43-33 on Friday and advanced to the championship game of the 2A South Regional Tournament, held at Caddo Hills High School.
Parkers Chapel improved to 19-4 and will play Horatio in the finals Saturday at 4 p.m.
“I'm excited,” said PC coach Justin Welch. “These girls have worked hard all year long. To make it to the regional championship is a huge honor. It's one they definitely deserve, and they've definitely earned it. Boy, they got after it tonight. When you see them out there working on defense and as hard as that group works, as a coach, it just makes you proud.”
The Lady Trojans led 20-14 at the half and 28-20 going into the fourth quarter. The Lady Rattlers turned up the heat with defensive pressure. PC handled it well enough and was money at the free throw line down the stretch.
Ali Looney, Taylor Fortune and Macie Wood combined to hit 11-of14 at the line in the final period. Looney was 7-of-8 in the fourth.
The Lady Trojans made just two field goals in the fourth – one each by Wood and Bella Frisby. Free throws were critical, but the game was won on the defensive end of the court.
“They have a really good point guard. She is a mismatch because she's about 5-11, I would guess. She's pushing six-foot and she can handle that ball. She's a tough mismatch,” said Welch of Murfreesboro's Rhalee Campbell. “I was sitting there debating before the game who I was going to put on her. I called Ali Looney's name. Little number 30 got on her and she got after it. She worked her heart out. When she got tired, I called on Macie Wood. They kind of swapped out and did a fantastic job against her. She still scored points but let me tell you, that girl earned every point that she scored tonight.”
Campbell finished with 18 points and was the only Lady Rattler in double figures.
“Drue also got the assignment of their second best player,” Welch added. “She did a really good job of just shutting her down. She completely took her out of the game. She's been doing that to a lot of people.”
Drue Thomas held Murfreesboro's Emma Corbitt scoreless through three quarters. Corbitt finished with four points.
Looney led the Lady Trojans with 15 points. Fortune and Wood each scored 11.
For the game, PC was 17-of-24 at the line.
“These girls have been working on their free throws this year. I feel like that's one of our strengths,” said Welch. “Anytime we get a lead, I'm very comfortable being more patient and just seeing how the defense reacts. Tonight, they had to come out and start fouling us.”
Horatio beat Fordyce 51-47 in the other semifinal. “It's going to be a hard-fought ball game. I know they play really fast, and they like to try to force turnovers,” Welch said. “They're a good basketball team, obviously, if they're in the regional finals.”