By Michael Lindsay
The York Institute Dragonettes kept their dominant postseason run alive Monday evening as they defeated Cannon County in the Region 3-2A semifinals at Monterey, 52-32.
Monday’s win clinches a region championship appearance and a Class AA sectional berth for the Dragonettes.
“Any time you get to substate it’s great,” said York head coach Michael Green. “This is our third substate in a row. Cannon County is a great team and had us worried coming in. The goal is to get to the region championship and we’re here.”
Leading York Institute (31-2) Monday evening was Class 2A Miss Basketball finalist Reese Beaty as the sophomore point guard scored 27 points.
“We told Reese that we wanted her to play like she did against White County,” Green said. “We knew our posts would have trouble scoring it against their size.”
York’s full-court defensive pressure became easy offense for the Dragonettes in the first period.
“We weren’t sure how they’d handle our pressure; you can only watch so much film,” Green said. “Our press really got us going.”
The Dragonettes took a double-digit lead with 55 seconds left in the first period as a Gabby Beaty steal resulted in a transition layup for her sister, Reese, to put York up 15-4.
The Dragonettes’ stifling defense continued in the second quarter, pushing their lead out to 26-10 by halftime.
Cannon County showed signs of life in the third period as they outscored York 11-9 in the frame as the Dragonettes took a 35-21 lead into the fourth quarter.
Coach Green and the Dragonettes were content with killing the clock in the second half as they looked to close out Cannon County.
“We did a great job at that,” Green said. “I told them we don’t have to be in a hurry about anything. I don’t care what the score is at the end of the game; I don’t want us to speed up on offense. They’re going to have to come get us.”
York Institute successfully held off Cannon County in the fourth period as they went 9-13 from the free-throw line in the final frame to defeat the Lady Lions, 52-32.
Up next for the Dragonettes is Wednesday’s Region 3-2A championship against Smith County (14-17). The Lady Owls played spoiler to Westmoreland’s season Monday evening as they upset the District 6-2A champion Lady Eagles 44-41 in the other semifinal game.
“Smith County has a lot of size and some good players,” Green said. “Hopefully, we’ll be ready to go.”
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Monterey High School.
York Institute (52): Reese Beaty 27, Gabby Beaty 8, Ellie Leffew 7, Raylee Werner 6, Emy Crabtree 2, Emma Cooper 2
