By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

ALBANY — They’re off and running.

No, this wasn’t the start of a horse race, but it might have appeared that way after the South Point Lady Pointers ran past the New Lexington Lady Panthers 75-54 Wednesday in the Division II sectional tournament semifinals.

The Lady Pointers used their full-court pressure to force 11 turnovers that they turned into easy layups en route to the easy win.

“Defensively we really got after it in the first half,” said South Point coach Dave Adams. “We just pressured them and we got a lot of deflections that let us get out and run.”

Leading the running game were Jalynn Bradburn and Allison Mitchell. Bradburn scored 25 points while Mitchell had 22 points.

“Bradburn had a nice game and there aren’t many post players who can run with Mitchell,” said Adams.

Kayla Fletcher scored 15 points as the Lady Pointers (18-3) advanced to the finals at 2:45 p.m. Saturday against the Fairfield Union-Warren winner.

New Lexington was led by Andrea Abram with 19 points and Kaylyn Abram with 17 as the duo combined for five 3-pointers — four in the second half.

South Point built a 20-7 first quarter lead as Bradburn scored 10 points including a pair of 3-pointers.

Mitchell scored 10 points in the second quarter as the Lady Pointers opened up a 40-16 hafltime cushion.

Bradburn scored 10 of South Point’s 18 points in the third quarter and the lead was 58-32. The Abrams combined for 12 of the Lady Panthers 16 points in the quarter.

Mitchell scored seven points and Fletcher five in the fourth quarter to offset 15 points from the two Abram girls.

“We got in some foul trouble and they hit some 3’s in the second half,” said Adams.

New Lexington advanced to play South Point after beating Meigs 77-60.

New Lexington 7 9 16 22 = 54

South Point 20 20 18 17 = 75

NEW LEXINGTON (5-16): Kaylyn Abram 3 3 2-3 17, Charlotte Kunkler 0 0 0-0 0, Andrea Abram 5 2 3-4 19, Sydney Wycinski 0 0 3-4 3, Sara Murray 3 0 0-0 6, Kia Sheumaker 0 0 0-0 0, NicoleShipley 1 0 7-10 9, Lindsay Koontz 0 0 0-0 0, Mariah Post 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 5 15-21 54. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.

SOUTH POINT (17-3): Allison Mitchell 8 0 6-10 22, Erin Dillow 2 1 0-1 7, Kayla Fletcher 5 0 5-8 15, Kimmie Bennett 0 0 0-0 0, Jalynn Bradburn 8 2 3-4 25, Aundrea Bradburn 0 0 0-0 0, Eryn Khounlavong 0 0 0-0 0, Brianna Whaley 0 0 0-0 0, Angelica Stewart 3 0 0-0 6, Kadesha Fox 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 26 3 14-23 75. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.