Fort Gay, W. Va. — In the opening round of the Class A Region 4 Section 1 girls basketball tournament the Tolsia Rebels ( 11-11 ) defeated the Sherman Tide 64-35 Monday at Rebel Arena.
Kilee Preece heads toward the basket for two of her game high 19 points in a section win over Sherman.
Kilee Preece paced the Rebels with 19 points, Emily Artrip tallied 14 points, Amber Stevens added 11 points, Jayce Crum netted 7 points, McKenzie Cassell scored 6 points, Olivia Kelly had 5 points, Sara Sturgell chipped in with 5 points.
Emily Artrip nails a third quarter three pointer against the Tide on Monday.
Tolsia hit 4 three pointers and went 22 of 36 from the free throw line.
Sherman was led Jaiden Graley with 8 points, Summer Harvey and Anabeth Keith had 7 points each, Haiden Smith 5 points, Makayla Harless 3 points, Dana Ferrell and Alexis Lovejoy 2 points apiece and Cara Mullins chipped in with 1 point.
The Tide went 12 of 27 from the foul line and hit 3 three pointers.
#52 Amber Stevens with the bucket versus Sherman.
SHS 10 8 5 12 = 35
THS 12 20 14 18 = 64
#2 Tug Valley defeated #3 Man 50-38 in the other semifinal game played in Naugatuck Monday night.
#2 Tug Valley will now travel to Rebel Arena and face #1 Tolsia on Thursday at 7:00 for the Class A Region 4 Section 1 Championship.
The Rebels won both regular season matchups with the Panthers by a combined three points.
Tolsia is looking for back to back Section Championships.
#12 Olivia Kelly beats the pressure defense in the Rebels win on Monday.
Tolsia Head Coach Ric Morrone
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Excited for our girls, if you would have checked the odds on November 6th that we would be the number one seed and hosting the sectional championship you could have won a lot of money. Other than the people in our group I’m not sure many other people would have gave us much of a chance. The girls have earned the right to host and what you do with it is up to you. Very proud of them for their efforts tonight. Battling some injuries and will get those checked out and get ready for a battle on Thursday with Tug Valley. Hopefully a packed house here and I’m sure Rebel Nation will be out in full force like they have all year. Our girls have improved all year long and deserve everything they get.”
“…We got 10 girls and needed every one of them tonight. I’ve told them all year you never know when your opportunity will come and just be ready. And they were tonight because we got into some foul trouble and was trying steal minutes here and there. Really proud of all them from top to bottom. It’s all hands on deck this time of year.”
“… We thought down the stretch if we could get our first group going we would be fine and that’s what happen. We weathered the storm early on and give Sherman credit they played hard throughout and give us fits in the first quarter. I thought we lived the ball well, knocked down some three pointers and played well in the second half. We are so young and sometimes you never know what you’re going to get. I’m excited and proud to be their coach so glad they get to play for a championship on Thursday.”
“… Coach Ooten is a good friend of mine and does a great job with them in his first year. Those games earlier in the year could have went either way. It should be a great game and what rivalries are all about.”
