— posted by Mike Cummings
Two classifications are complete, and Class 2A now enters the spotlight. There should be plenty of interest for RCR readers, with Tanner’s boys and girls both playing this afternoon. Check back frequently for live updates.
5:47 p.m. I’m done with all the postgame interviews, and now it’s time to write the story. Final stats: Sierra Sales 19 points, 13 rebounds. Lauren Harris 12 points, 9 rebounds. Alliyah Fletcher 10 points. Hannah Sharp (Red Bay) 20 points, 7 steals. Whitney Sharp (Red Bay) 11 points.
For live updates on Tanner’s boys, head over to Cody’s blog here on RCR.
5:11 p.m. Tanner finishes off Red Bay 59-48, but not without some tense moments. The awards ceremony is under way. More coming.
5:00 p.m. Timeout with 1:54 left and Tanner up 52-44. Red Bay has come back to make a game of it despite two players having already fouled out. Hannah Sharp has 11 points so far in the fourth quarter for Red Bay, and 18 overall.
4:40 p.m. Through three quarters, Tanner leads Red Bay 41-26. The Lady Rattlers won that quarter 17-14 with Sales scoring eight points in the post. When she catches the ball in the post and turns to shoot, she’s almost unstoppable, especially in Class 2A.
4:28 p.m. Sierra Sales hits two free throws with 5:17 left in the third as Tanner equals its largest lead at 29-15. Red Bay is down by 14, but it’s pretty clear the Lady Tigers are prepared to fight for this one. I mean that figuratively, of course. There won’t be any fist-fights in this one, but Red Bay already looks much tougher in the third quarter than it did in the first half. I’d bet their coach told them to toughen up some at halftime.
4:21 p.m. With a 12-point lead at halftime, it seems the only thing Tanner’s girls lack is a worthy cheering section. Most schools bring down large student sections, which traditionally gather at the short ends of the court. Tanner’s only student fans happened to be the boys basketball team, which went to the locker room at halftime to prepare for this afternoon’s game against Mars Hill.
4:12 p.m. Halftime score: Tanner 24, Red Bay 12. Tanner outscored Red Bay 15-6 in the second quarter. The Lady Rattlers have been able to score in every fashion. In the post, Lauren Harris and Sierra Sales have been their usual dominant selves. Samara French has hit one 3-pointer. And when Red Bay presses, Tanner has been able to get a couple of baskets in transition.
3:59 p.m. Timeout with 5:51 left in the half and Tanner up 13-8. Red Bay has no answer for Tanner’s post tandem of Lauren Harris and Sierra Sales, but no one really has all year. The Red Bay fans keep screaming for fouls, but the refs are unmoved. Tanner plays physical, but clean, basketball.
3:55 p.m. Tanner leads Red Bay 9-6 after one quarter. The Lady Rattlers scored with 2:06 left on a Lauren Harris basket, then Red Bay stalled for the next minute and a half before finally missing a shot with 10 seconds left.
3:29 p.m. Tanner and Red Bay are warming up, with about 5 minutes to go before tip-off. The Lady Rattlers got here by whipping Cold Springs 60-27 on Tuesday. Red Bay slipped by Lexington in a tight contest.
Cody Whitlock
Justin Graves
