[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
|
Tyler Sowards of Geary battles Spencer’s Michael Bates for a rebound. The county foes faced off Thursday at the Yellow Jacket gym. |
Roane County will be the clear favorite when it hosts 7-15 Clay County today (Thursday) in the Region IV, Section 1 girls basketball final.
Tip-off at the RCHS gym is set for 7 p.m.
Coach Frank Farrar’s Lady Raiders already own a pair of victories over the Panthers this season. Roane was a 65-38 winner in the season opener Dec. 4 in Clay and took the rematch 49-40 Feb. 5 in Spencer.
“Now we have to beat them one more time,” Farrar said.
Roane put together a 13-9 regular season that matches the school record for most wins. The Lady Raiders feature a balanced attack led by junior guard Ashli Knotts at 10 points per game and senior forward Jessica Roberts with a 9.6 average. Sophomore forward Clarissa Pinson is right behind the duo at 8.9 points per game.
Knotts, the school record holder, also averages 5.6 steals and 4.8 assists while Roberts pounds the boards for 13 rebounds an outing. Pinson contributes 9 rebounds per game.
Junior guard Sammy Sloan contributes an average of 2.7 steals and senior guard Stephanie Cutlip is the team’s top 3-point threat at 1.1 per game.
Clay’s top player is Sierra Carver, who averages 21 points and 11.2 boards a game.
In the first meeting between the LKC South rivals, Carver and Kelli Cole each scored 12 for Clay. Knotts led Roane with 19 points and Roberts added 16.
In the second game, Carver hit for 20 and Cole 13, not enough to offset the Lady Raider balance that included Roberts’ 13 points and 10 by Pinson.
The winner of today’s game will move on to face the Section 2 survivor, which is expected to be LKC champion Braxton County (17-5) in the regional final. That game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Summersville Armory.
