Eagles hold off No.8 Lovelady, 51-45
during Saturday's warm-up game in the Tenaha Special Events
Center. The Lady Eagles defeated Lovelady, 51-45. (Photo by
John Krueger)
TENAHA -- With Woden's lead dwindling in the final moments, Lady Eagle junior guard Destavia Davis stole the ball and drove coast-to-coast for a key layup to help WHS to a 51-45 victory over No.12-ranked (Class 1A, D-I) Lovelady in the Tyler Chapter of Officials Girls' Playoff Preview played here in the Tenaha Special Events Center.
Davis scored 12 points for the Lady Eagles (26-5), while the squad was led offensively by Charlotte Singleton's 16 points. The District 19-2A champion Lady Eagles now sit back and wait to find out who they will play in the Area round of the playoffs. Because of their league title, Woden will play the winner of Tuesday’s Chapel Hill-White Oak bi-district contest. White Oak (26-5) defeated Tenaha Saturday night, 73-50.
Eight different Woden players scored in the contest as the Eagles outmanned the Lady Lions (23-9), who won the District 23-1A title. Lovelady will also receive a first-round bye and take on the winner of Tuesday's Cushing-LaPoynor matchup in the second round late next week.
In addition to the scoring by Singleton and Davis, junior ShyAnne Stone added eight points, Leslie Holliman dropped in six, Sarah Schmidt threw in four, Ashley Wilburn and Tyler Gipson each scored two points and Sara McLemore scored one point for Woden.
Danielle Childs paced Lovelady with 15 points, while Chesley McKnight and Lyndsey LaRue added 10 points apiece.
The game began as a defensive struggle as the Lady Eagles held an 11-9 lead at the end of the opening period. Woden then held the Lady Lions to just eight points in the second quarter, while scoring 19 for a 30-17 lead at the half.
The Lady Eagles held a 45-31 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Lovelady began the period with a 12-2 run to pull to within 47-43 with 2:19 remaining.
With a chance to cut the lead further, Davis made the play of the game, stealing the ball and driving the length of the court for a layup to give WHS a 49-43 lead with 1:36 remaining.
Both teams then missed scoring opportunities before Davis canned a pair of free throws to ice the contest as it gave the Lady Eagles a 51-43 lead with 25.5 seconds remaining.
STATS AT A GLANCE
Scoring by Quarters
Woden 11 19 15 06 = 51
Lovelady 09 08 14 14 = 45
Individual Scorers: Woden - Charlotte Singleton 16; Destavia Davis 12; ShyAnne Stone 8; Leslie Holliman 6 Sarah Schmidt 4; Ashley Wilburn 2; Tyler Gipson 2; Sara McLemore 1. Lovelady - Danielle Childs 15; Chesley McKnight 10; Lyndsey LaRue 10; Kendall Crum 5; Shelby Grunnells 5.
Records: Woden 26-5; Lovelady 23-9.