Tharptown ends tournament for Vina

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Tharptown’s Erica Valdez (12) looks to make an in-bounds pass while defended by Jessica Pickle (15) of Vina. Tharptown’s Kassy Baker (5) looks on.

THARPTOWN — The Tharptown Lady Wildcats ended the 2012 1A area tournament run for the Vina Lady Red Devils Thursday night by defeating them 51-30 in Tharptown.

Tharptown will move on to face Belgreen in the 1A Area 13 finals Saturday night at Tharptown.

“Our girls stepped up and did their job,” Tharptown head coach Chad Green said. “We’re still improving and getting better.”

Kassy Baker started the Lady Wildcats off on the right foot by draining a 3 at the midpoint of the first.

Danielle Creasy hit a layup to put Tharptown up 5-0, but a layup by Caitlin Benstine narrowed the gap for Vina to 5-2.

The Lady Wildcats had a 6-4 lead with just under a minute remaining in the first when Baker hit a field goal to put Tharptown up 8-4.

A Lady Red Devils free throw ended the first with the Lady Wildcats up 8-5.

“I told Coach Green before the game that the big thing is, if we can score 60 like we have before, we can win,” Vina head coach Paul Humphres said.

“If we can’t we won’t beat this caliber of an opponent.”