The eastern half of the region dominated the Fourth Region All A Classic this weekend in Clinton County.
The Monroe County girls and the Clinton County boys are the champions.
The Todd Central girls reached the regional finals by beating Clinton County in Saturday’s semifinals. They lost by 57-41 to Monroe in Sunday’s championship game. Coach Travis Lovan’s Lady Rebels had to win a home game against Cumberland County (59-29) to get to the semifinals. The Lady Rebels are now 6-10 overall and 5-4 in the region.
Russellville's All A involvement ended Saturday when Monroe County swept RHS with the Lady Falcons (11-9 overall, 7-8 region) beating RHS (2-14, 2-8) 61-32. The Falcons (14-6, 10-2) beat the Panthers (6-10, 5-5) 86-38.
Ten players scored for the Lady Panthers, but none with big numbers. Lee McCarley scored 6 points and Marcaria Hines 5, but everyone else had 4 or fewer. They were Jayce Buchner, Anastasia Dowlen, Susanna Higgins, Breeanna Lewis, Carleigh Phillips, Chloe Whitescarver, Deshale Leblanc and Gabbi Poirier.
Dowlen, an eighth grader who ranks in the top 20 rebounders in the state, pulled down 8 boards.
Coach Shannon Booth’s Lady Panthers have played four of their last six games at faraway Clinton County, following three games in late December in the Best of the Lakes Holiday Classic.
Tuesday’s home games this week against Warren East Tuesday and Logan County Friday will find them less road weary.
In contrast to the girls, the Panthers’ offense was a one-man show with junior Jacob Naylor scoring 26 of the 38 points. He connected on four 3-pointers and hit sizzling 11 of 14 field goal attempts; all 3 of the misses were from long range. Second in scoring was Anthony Woodard with 4 points. Coach Rex Booth used 15 players in the game, but nine of them went scoreless.
The Panthers were only 2 of 10 from the line, with Chaun Cheaney and Akeem Dukes each getting one to fall.
In addition to free throw shooting, the Panthers had trouble on the boards. The RHS stat sheets show the Panthers pulling down 12 rebounds for the game with Dukes and Parker Jones leading with 2 each.
The Russellville boys also entertain East and LCHS this week.
Clinton County plays Robertson County in the boys All A state tournament Thursday.