Warriorettes rally to advance to district championship

On Feb. 18, the White County High School Warriorettes traveled to Tennessee Tech's Hooper Eblen Center to take on the Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats. The two teams had split in regular season play, each winning on their opponent's home court. Both teams had a very supportive crowd sitting on opposite sides of the arena. The contest winner would move on to the district championship game, on Feb. 19.

The game began with both teams showing excitement to be playing at TTU. The first series for the Wildcats ended with a missed shot and a jump ball call. Possession went to WCHS and looked very promising as sophomore Celeste Reed was fouled on her shot and went to the line for a chance at a 3-point play. Reed hit the free throw, and the Warriorettes jumped out to a 3-point lead. The Lady Wildcats answered quickly with two straight baskets, going up 4-3 on the Warriorettes. After a long drought of missed shots, Livingston hit a three, with 1:07 left in the quarter. The Lady Wildcats added to their lead with a 3-point play and extended it to 10-3. Nia Powers was fouled and went to the line and went 2-2 to give WCHS their first points since the game's first minute. Livingston would score a basket, and Powers would end the quarter with a basket. The Warriorettes would end the quarter down 12-7.

The Lady Wildcats would start the second quarter at the line. After missing both free throws, the Lady Wildcats would get the rebound and put it back for 2. At 6:48 left in the second quarter, White County would call a timeout down 16-7. Powers would hit a 3 and pull the Warriorettes within 6. After a Livingston basket, Alaina Stiles was fouled and went to the line to score 2 for the Warriorettes. Livingston would score another basket, and Powers would be fouled, go to the line, and go 2 for 2. The margin was still 6, and the Warriorettes seemed not to be able to get closer. Powers was fouled and went to the line and finished the 3-point play. Powers was fouled again on the next possession and went to the line for 2. Livingston was fouled and answered with two free throws, with 16.4 seconds left in the quarter. The Lady Wildcats had the ball stolen by WCHS's KK McDonald, and, on her pass to Powers, a foul was called, and Powers went 1-2 from the line, cutting the lead to 4 and giving a 26-22 lead to Livingston at the half.

The Warriorettes came out shooting in the third quarter. Stiles hit a deep 3 to start the quarter. Reed was fouled and went 2-2 from the line, giving the Warriorettes their first lead since the game's first minute, 27-26. After two timeouts, a jump ball, and a few called fouls, the scoring was continued by Karly Beth Frazier, with a WCHS 3-pointer. Livingston answered with a basket and a called timeout, with a 30-28 WCHS lead. Powers added a 3-point play to give the Warriorettes a 5-point lead. The Lady Wildcats pulled within 1 on two straight plays. With 2:26 left in the quarter, Ava Jones went to the line and scored 2 from the line. Livingston added a basket to pull back within 1. A technical foul call sent Powers to the line, where she went 2-2. White County got the ball after the free throws, and KK McDonald hit a 3-pointer to give a 40-34 lead to the Warriorettes after three.

The fourth quarter started with a Powers basket. Livingston Academy answered with 2 from the line and a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 3. Karly Gentry pushed the lead back to 6 with a 3-pointer. Powers hit a basket to push the lead to 8 with three minutes left in the game. After a WCHS turnover, Livingston Academy scored a basket; on the inbounds play, WCHS was forced to call a timeout. Livingston went to the line in their next two possessions and went 3-4. With 1:12 left in the game, Reed was fouled and went to the line and hit two free throws. Reed went to the line with a 5-point lead and went 1-2 to give the Warriorettea a 6-point lead. Livingston scored a quick basket and fouled Powers, who hit both free throws. Livingston scored again to cut the lead to 4. Powers went to the line to hit free-throw 16 and 17 on the night, with 2.9 seconds left in the game. Livingston hit a basket at the buzzer, and the Warriorettes took the win from Livingston 54-50.