Smith County Stuns Westmoreland in Region 3-2A Semis in Overtime, 44-41

Lady Owls Advance to Region Title, Substate For First Time in 45 Years

By Michael Lindsay

 

March Madness came a few days early for the Smith County Lady Owls as they stunned Westmoreland in the Region 3-2A tournament semifinals Monday evening in overtime, 44-41.

“I’m so proud of the kids,” said Lady Owl head coach Matt Ferrell. “All year long we’ve battled injuries and adversity. It’s not about Xs and Os tonight; it’s about wanting to win more than the team across from you.”

Smith County (14-17) hasn’t been to a region championship or substate game in 45 years. The last Lady Owl postseason run this deep came when girls basketball was still 6-on-6.

“I’m so happy for these seniors,” Ferrell said. “They were in a gauntlet district for a while, then they got killed in this game last year. I couldn’t be more proud of the way that they competed.”

Standing in the way Monday was an elimination game against District 6-2A champion Westmoreland (24-9), who had defeated Smith County 3 times this season by 18, 16 and 12 points.

Lady Owl senior point guard Addie Hawkins led her team with 14 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“Addie’s a dog,” Ferrell said. “She made the plays you expect a senior to make.”

Also scoring in double figures for Smith County was Airyn Enoch with 12 points.

Despite the historic victory, Monday’s game started about as badly as possible for the Lady Owls.

Smith County fell behind 12-2 midway through the first period and trailed 13-9 to end the period. Foul trouble caught Smith County in the second period as Hawkins, Elle Haughton and Merissa Spivey each picked up three fouls in the first half.

“Those 30 games this year that we had that rotating roster from people out with injuries paid dividends tonight,” Ferrell said. “If Julia Dickerson and Abigail Hackett don’t play the minutes they did in the second quarter we don’t win.”

Smith County stayed alive in the second quarter with three starters on the bench. An Enoch free throw with 3:43 left until halftime pulled the Lady Owls within 3 points, 15-12.

Westmoreland closed the second period strong to lead 21-14 at halftime.

The Lady Owls clawed their way back into the game early in the second half as a Spivey baseline jumper with 47 seconds left in the third period cut Westmoreland’s lead to 27-24 to end the period.

Smith County caught up to Westmoreland with 6:50 remaining in regulation via a Chloe Collins three-pointer, tying the game at 27.

Westmoreland went ahead by 3 with 5:34 left before a Hawkins and-one tied the game at 32.

Following a Lady Eagle basket and a Haughton free throw, Smith County trailed 34-33 with less than a minute remaining.

Hawkins again converted a three-point play as an and-one with 44.4 seconds left put the Lady Owls up 36-34. Westmoreland answered with a pair of free throws with 20.6 seconds left to tie the game at 36, sending it to overtime with a substate berth on the line.

Smith County jumped ahead by 4 points (40–36) to start the extra frame before a Westmoreland three-pointer cut the Lady Owl lead to 40-39 with 44 seconds left.

The Lady Owls were unable to convert two front-ends of one-and-ones until Hawkins stepped to the line with 16.4 seconds left and sank two free throws to put her team up 42-39.

Westmoreland missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession as Spivey rebounded and was fouled with 6.3 seconds left. She made both free throws to put her team ahead 44-39 before a Westmoreland basket at the buzzer to make the final score 44-41.

“Our kids have grown up a lot over the last few weeks,” Ferrell said. “Our kids have been having fun and they’re not ready for it to be over.”

Up next for Smith County is Wednesday’s Region 3-2A championship against UC #1 York Institute (31-2).

“I think they are as good as anybody in the state regardless of classification,” Ferrell said. “If you dropped them in 4A, they’re going to compete. Coach Michael Green does a really good job getting them to lock in defensively. It almost offends them to give up 20 points.

“We’re going to have our hands full, but we’re going to have an opportunity to compete,” Ferrell said. “We’ll give them our best shot, and if it doesn’t work out then we’re still playing on Saturday.”

Regardless of Wednesday’s outcome, the Lady Owls will compete Saturday in the Class AA sectional with a state tournament berth on the line. Opponent, time and location TBD.

Smith County (44): Addie Hawkins 14, Airyn Enoch 12. Merissa Spivey 7, Elle Haughton 6, Chloe Collins 5

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