Lady Warhawks mount rally in win

CLASS 2A MOUNT VERNON-ENOLA 60, RIVERSIDE 54

MANSFIELD — Despite being down eight points at halftime, Mount Vernon-Enola senior guard Marlee Raby and the Lady Warhawks found a way Saturday.

Raby finished with a gamehigh 23 points and Dessie McCarty added 20 points as Mount Vernon-Enola rallied in the fourth quarter for a 6054 victory against Riverside in the Class 2A girls semifinals.

“I always say we have the biggest dog in us,” Raby said. “I feel like, if that game doesn’t show we do, then I don’t know what does. I will say we are really good at handling adversity. We’ve been through a lot of it. I don’t feel pressure anymore after that.”

The victory extended a winning streak to 46 games dating back to last season’s state tournament for Mount Vernon-Enola (42-0), which is looking for back-to-back titles.

“It’s so sweet for our community,” Mount Vernon-Enola Coach Adam Carlton said. “Last year was the first one we ever got in basketball. This one means a lot because we wanted to get back to the championship game. There’s a lot of pressure on those kids. I’m just so proud of them.”

Riverside controlled the first half with a hot shooting display.

The Lady Rebels made 58% of their attempts while also sinking seven three-pointers for a 37-29 halftime lead. Riverside led 18-15 after the first.

“They shot the lights out of it early,” Carlton said. “They are a really good team and well-coached. We had a battle with them last year and to begin [this] season. Our kids were looking forward to this to get a chance.”

The Lady Warhawks found their groove right out of halftime. They used an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to 41-40 and was later down 46-41 entering the fourth quarter.

Mount Vernon-Enola was guided by Raby and McCarty down the stretch. McCarty hit a three-pointer with a minute left to cap a 9-0 run to take a 54-51 lead, which was the Lady Warhawks’ first since leading 19-18 early in the second quarter. Raby had 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Riverside (30-7) was led by Ryley Eakins (16 points), Gracie Washington (11 points), Ali Towles (11 points) and Carly Jo Womack (10 points).

Raby finished with a teamhigh 5 assists to go with 6 rebounds and 3 steals. McCarty also had 11 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals.

“She does an amazing job,” Carlton said of Raby. “I’ve been blessed to coach three of her siblings. They all did a great job. This team did a great job. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

MANSFIELD 61, IZARD COUNTY 52

Senior forward Alyson Edwards finished with a game-high 23 points to go with 14 rebounds to lead Mansfield (32-0), which will attempt to win its first state title since 1986.

Mansfield had four double-digit scorers in Edwards, Harlie Fuller (13 points), Kynslee Ward (13 points) and Kaylee Ward (12 points).

Izard County (25-12) was led by 15 points from Quinn Johnson and 13 points from Olivia Spray.