Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

LUCASVILLE — It was a tale of two halves.

The Rock Hill Redwomen played two different halves of basketball. Fortunately, the second half was the better performance as they beat the Eastern Brown Lady Warriors 47-34 Wednesday in the Division III sectional tournament semifinals.

“We settled down at the half and came out and ran our offense,” said Rock Hill coach Greg Damron. “We forced a lot in the first half. Once we quit forcing things, we were all right.”

Rock Hill led by just one point at the half but turned it up in the second half to end a tournament drought. The win was the first for the Redwomen in the sectional tournament since 2003.

“The seniors really wanted to win a tournament game. I’m extremely proud of the girls, especially the seniors,” Damron. “The girls have kept playing hard every week.”

Rock Hill (4-13) plays Greenfield McClain at 1 p.m. Saturday in the sectional finals.

Kacie Russell scored 16 points and Madison Damron had 11 points to lead Rock Hill. Anna Darby grabbed six rebounds and Brooklyn Massie had four.

Kyndal Sowers scored 12 points and Lauren Towne 10 for Eastern Brown.

“Towne had 10 points in the first half and we shut her down in the second half,” said coach Damron. “Brooklyn Massie had four rebounds and took three charges. She did all kinds of small things to help us out.”

The Lady Warriors were up 9-8 at the end of the first quarter, but Rock Hill ralled to take a 19-18 halftime lead.

Russell scored eight points in the third quarter and Madison Damron had four as Rock Hill blitzed the Lady Warriors 19-9 to open up a 38-27 lead.

Rock Hill outscored Eastern Brown 9-7 in the fourth quarter.

Eastern 9 9 9 7 = 34

Rock Hill 8 11 19 9 = 47

EASTERN BROWN (NA): Delaney Walsh 1 0 0-0 2, Molly Prine 2 0 0-0 4, Jensen Sowers 1 0 0-0 2, Abby Fultz 0 0 0-0 0, Kyndal Sowers 5 0 2-4 12, Amy Boudreu 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Towne 2 2 0-1 10, Hannah Dotson 0 0 0-0 0, Regan Inlow 2 0 0-0 4. Totals: 13 2 2-5 34. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.

ROCK HILL (4-13): Caitlyn Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Madison Damron 4 1 0-2 11, Lindy Simpson 0 1 0-0 3, Patty Riffe 0 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Massie 2 0 0-0 4, Anna Darby 1 0 2-4 4, Sabrina Henderson 0 0 0-0 0, Maddie Malone 0 0 1-2 1, Kacie Russell 4 2 2-2 16, Sarah Travis 2 1 1-2 8. Totals: 13 5 6-12 47. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.