Greenback knocks off Lady Devils

By GOOSE LINDSAY

rcsports@bellsouth.net

When the Harriman Lady Blue Devils knocked off Rockwood Saturday in the District 3-A Tour-nament semifinals, Jim Cordell’s squad was clicking on all cylinders in picking up a 66-43 victory.

Tuesday night, however, the Lady Devils never found that type of a rhythm as they were knocked off by Greenback, 42-36, in the championship game of the tournament.

While Harriman’s offense did struggle for much of the evening, the Lady Devils did play well on defense and were in the contest against the No. 1 seeded Lady Cherokees from start to finish.

Tuesday’s contest opened with the two teams trading baskets for much of the opening period, but the Lady Devils did use a 6-2 run late in the period to take a 12-10 lead after eight minutes of play.

Shakira Boyd led the Lady Devils with six points in the opening period while Kiersten Douglass added four.

Harriman held District 3-A Player of the Year Jama Hammontree to two points in the first pe-riod.

Defense was definitely the name of the game in the second period as Greenback outscored the Lady Devils 7-5 in the frame to tie the score at 17 at halftime.

Hammontree led all scorers in the second period with five points.

Both teams were looking for someone to step up in the third period and Kelsey Wheeler would be that player for the Lady Cherokees. Wheeler buried two three-pointers in the first 5:15 of the period as Greenback suddenly held a 27-21 lead with 2:45 left to play in the third quarter.

Greenback took a 28-25 lead into the final quarter, but then the momentum suddenly switched in favor of the Lady Devils.

Harriman’s Shantel Boyd opened the final period by burying a jumper then Douglass added an old-fashioned three-point play as the Lady Devils held a 30-28 lead with 6:52 to play.

Unfortunately for Harriman fans that lead would not last, Wheeler buried her third triple of the night 24 seconds later and that sparked a 9-0 Lady Cherokee run that made the score 37-30 with 3:51 left to play.

Harriman snapped out of their slump when Jasmine Fuqua hit a free throw with 3:29 left in the contest, but it would be another 3:05 before Harriman scored again as a Shantel Boyd three-pointer pulled the Lady Devils to within five at 39-34 with 24.5 seconds to play.

Greenback then sealed the deal with three free throws from Hammontree.

Hammontree led Greenback on the night with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Wheeler was next in line with her three big triples.

Hannah Dukes had six assists for the Lady Cherokees.

Douglass paced the Lady Devils with 11 points and six rebounds. Shakira Boyd (9 points, 9 re-bounds) and Fuqua (9 points, 7 rebounds) were next in line while Moriah Anderson dished out four assists.

Despite the loss, Harriman hosts Coalfield Friday night in the opening round of the Region 2-A Tournament. Greenback will entertain Oakdale.

Harriman (36) Douglass 11, Shakira Boyd 9, Shantel Boyd 5, Fuqua 9, Price 2.