Gatorettes finish as sectional runners-up
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The North Middle School Gatorettes lost to the Blackman Lady Flames 62-24 at Stewarts Creek Middle School Saturday in the championship game for the Section 2AAA tournament.
Facing the defending Class AAA state champions with a spot in the state tournament on the line, the Gatorettes were outscored in each quarter as they finished the year as the sectional runners-up.
The Gatorettes scored the first point of the game on a free throw by Kennedy Hall, but the Lady Flames then scored 11 straight to take control of the scoreboard.
North trailed 17-7 after one quarter.
The Lady Flames ended the first half on a 17-5 run to bring the early deficit up to more than 20 points.
The Gatorettes trailed 38-15 at halftime.
The deficit continued to grow in the third quarter as the Lady Flames ended the period with 16 straight points to put the Gatorettes in a massive hole.
North trailed 56-20 going into the final period.
Both teams had their lowest scoring output of the day in the fourth quarter as the final deficit against the Gatorettes settled at 38 points.
Gracen Baggett led the Gatorettes with eight points for the game, followed by Kenzie Arnold with seven points and Hall and Sadie Hill with three points each.
Shekinah Miller scored two points and Ari Hill scored one.
With the loss, the Gatorettes finished their season with a record of 12-7.
Gatorettes 58, Warren County 34
The Gatorettes beat the Warren County Lady Pioneers 58-34 at Stewarts Creek Friday in a semifinal game for the Section 2AAA tournament.
The Gatorettes avenged losses to Warren County in their conference and area tournaments this year with the blowout victory on Friday advancing them to the sectional title game.
The score was close early on with the Gatorettes building a small lead for themselves in the opening period.
They led 9-6 after one quarter.
The Gatorettes had their best offensive period of the day in the second quarter as they pulled ahead by double digits before the halftime break.
They led 30-18 at the end of the first half.
The Gatorettes added a few more points to their lead in the third quarter as they continued to outpace the Lady Pioneers on the scoreboard.
North led 44-27 going into the final period.
The Gatorettes remained in firm control throughout the fourth quarter as they easily finished off the 24-point victory. Arnold scored 17 of Franklin County’s 28 points in the second half.
Arnold led the Gatorettes with 22 points for the game, followed by Baggett with 17 points and Hall and Miller with seven points each.
Keira Turner scored five points.
With the win, the Gatorettes improved to 12-6 on the season.

