By Staff
Scot Beard
HANCEVILLE – For the second straight year, the Red Bay varsity girls basketball team saw its season end during the first round of the Northwest Region Tournament after falling to Cold Springs 61-40.
The Lady Tigers built an early lead only to watch it evaporate as the Lady Eagles closed out the first quarter on a 16-3 run.
Cold Springs (31-1) continued to dominate in the second and pulled ahead 29-16 by halftime.
"We missed some shots we should have made," Red Bay coach Donnie Roberts said. "We had good shots under the basket but couldn't make them."
The Lady Tigers (25-8) made some adjustments at halftime and were able to keep Cold Springs' offense in check.
Red Bay also found some rhythm on offense as Morgan Duncan opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer then scored on a layup to pull the Lady Tigers within eight points.
The early points sparked the offense and Red Bay outscored Cold Springs 20-12 in the quarter to cut its deficit to five points by the fourth quarter.
"We were thinking we have to push the ball and get a shot every possession," Duncan said. "It was a major factor we were getting good shots and we got ourselves back in the lane."
Unfortunately, the momentum did not follow the Lady Tigers into the final quarter as Cold Springs opened the fourth with a 15-0 run to pull away for good.
Red Bay was in foul trouble for much of the game and many starters missed quite a bit of playing time early in the fourth quarter.
"Cold Springs has a fine, fine team. I thought we had a chance to upset them," Roberts said. "We got back in the game there and everything was going our way, then Morgan (Duncan) picked her fourth foul up."
Duncan scored a game-high 18 points while Whitney Sharp added six. Also scoring for Red Bay were Britan Bolding (5), Lauren Williams (3), Hannah Sharp (3), Kirsten Sharp (2), Caitlin Childers (2) and Shantell Nichols (1).
Georgia Myrex was the leading scorer for Cold Springs with 15 points.
Even though the season ended Tuesday, Roberts said he was happy with how his team has played this year.
"I am so, so proud. These girls have been over achievers," Roberts said. "We've won 25 games, Franklin County championship, won our area."