Middle School Girls’ Basketball: Saddle Ridge earns share of NGAC Eastern crown
It was a historic week for the Saddle Ridge Lady Mustangs, who earned a share of their first-ever division basketball title after picking up a pair of wins over Walker County foes.
Saddle Ridge girls 41, LaFayette 7
The Lady Mustangs gave up just two points in the first half last Tuesday and coasted to a win over division rival LaFayette in south Walker County.
Playing despite an illness, LaTyah Barber managed a 16-point night with seven rebounds and four steals. Sam Cramer drained a pair of 3-pointers and finished with eight points and two steals, while Grace Hamilton chipped in with six points.
Haley Stahl had just one point, but broke out the Windex and cleaned the glass with 14 rebounds. Other contributors included Mykeria Johnson (3 points, 3 rebounds), Madi Ashley (3 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal), Ashlyn Jenkins (2 points, 2 rebounds) and Imani Cook had (2 points, 2 steals).
Kaitlyn Pendergrass led LaFayette with four points and Aubrey Blankenship accounted for the other three points.
Saddle Ridge girls 52, Chatt. Valley 19
It was also Eighth Grade Night in Rock Spring where the Lady Mustangs took down the Lady Eagles in front of a loud and rowdy student section.
Saddle Ridge got out to a 28-6 lead at intermission and kept up the intensity in the second half. Barber had an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double with five steals in her final home game. Hamilton had eight points, five steals, two boards and two blocks, while Johnson finished with eight points, 11 rebounds and five steals.
Ashley dropped in eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Stahl had six points, three steals and a pair of rebounds. Jenkins grabbed five rebounds to go with her two points and three steals, while Imani Cook and Anna Grace Gilreath played solid minutes for Saddle Ridge.
Emma McGraw had nine points for four steals for the Lady Eagles and Jenna Morgan also picked up four steals.
With the win, Saddle Ridge tied for the Eastern Division title with Heritage, who lost to Dade County. A coin flip, held this past Friday, was also won by the Lady Mustangs, who entered this week’s
NGAC tournament as the top seed from the East.
Dade County girls 54, Chatt. Valley 28
Cordasia Watkins had eight points and four steals against the defending NGAC champions, while Lacey Cushen added four points.
Oakwood Christian girls 28, Berean 10
Lily Green had 10 points in a win on Monday. Raleigh Suits added eight points, while Avery Green picked up four. Chloe Taylor, Amelia Michael and Callie Ray rounded out the scoring with two points each.
Oakwood Christian girls 37, Grace 20
The Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Golden Eagles in all four quarters Tuesday afternoon and pitched a first-quarter shutout as they claimed the victory in Chickamauga.
Lily Green had a big night with 20 points for OCA (8-1). Taylor and Suits had six points each, followed by Michael with three and McKenley Bagget with two.
Gordon Lee girls 30, Lakeview 20
The Lady Trojans used a big 16-point performance by Emoree Rogers to tip the scales in their favor. Emma Minghini and Addison Sturdivant each had five points in the road win.
Rachel Lopez paced the Lady Warriors with 12 points.
Trion girls 31, Gordon Lee 22
The Lady Trojans were up 17-16 at the break on Thursday, but failed to score a single point in the third period and managed just five in the entire second half in a loss to the Lady Bulldogs.
Rogers had 12 points in defeat, followed by and Minghini with three each.
LaFayette girls 24, Rossville 9
Savannah Hall scored six points and Aubrey Blankenship and Miccaylah
Thompson added five each as the Lady Ramblers picked up the victory.
Kensley Wooten finished with four points, while Erin Hughes and Kaitlyn Pendergrass had two apiece.
Emalee Harris led the Lady Bulldogs with four points, followed by Mariah Gleash and Allyson Morris with two and Adorah Burks with one.