HANCEVILLE – An experienced West Limestone Lady Wildcat team got control of the second half to end Good Hope's playoff run by a 44-23 victory in the semifinals of the AHSAA 4A Northwest Regional Saturday morning.
Good Hope kept the game tight by halftime, trailing 17-14 as the Lady Raiders used three baskets from center Kate Kent, plus a three by point guard Savanna Derrick and a bucket from Erika Woodall to attempt to overcome a tough first half of shooting 25 percent from the field and only 42 percent at the foul line.
The Lady Raiders allowed West Limestone only 29 percent accuracy in the first half with the Lady Wildcats unable to get consistent at the line, shooting 3-of-7 for 42 percent.
But in the second half, seniors Destiny Clemons, Hope Dilldine and Rainey Tyler showed their valuable experience as they combined for 18 of the team's 27 points.
A 12-5 run by West Limestone in the third allowed the Lady Wildcats to open the lead to 29-19 at the end of the quarter.
West Limestone gave up one field goal to the Lady Raiders during the final 8:00 with Clemons scoring seven in the fourth to send them to the regional title game on Wednesday against the winner of the Deshler-Haleyville game.
Clemons got 13 for the 19-8 Lady Wildcats, Tyler added 10, Dilldine scored nine and seventh-grader Carolina Bachus tossed in eight.
Good Hope finishes Amanda Swann's first season with 13 wins against 17 losses and a berth to the "Sweet 16" of the AHSAA playoffs.
Kent had 10 in the game with six rebounds; Woodall scored seven and grabbed six rebounds, plus handed out three assists. Derrick scored four and Sadie Abbott, in her final game, had two points from the line with four rebounds and two steals.
Swann said after the game it was a learning lesson for her team. This was the first time for Derrick, Woodall and Leyton Seal (all starters) to experience a playoff situation, different from playing at Wallace State in the Cullman County Tournament.
"We have got a lot of things to work on," Swann added. "The girls were not used to this. This was an eye opener. We will work hard to get back here next year."
Kent agreed with her coach. "We have got to work much harder in the offseason."
The Lady Raiders will return four starters with Derrick entering her sophomore season as point guard in 2017-18. Kent, Woodall, Seal, Amber Sterling and Charis Peek will be seniors, while Alex Stansell will be in her junior year.
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