By Michael Lindsay
The Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats are state tournament bound for the first time since 2014 following Saturday’s 64-43 victory at Soddy Daisy in the Class 3A sectionals.
“This group has talked about getting to Murfreesboro all season long, even back in summer camp,” said LA head coach Lesley Riddle. “I’m hoping in that first game I’ll find out that we’re not happy just getting there. Once you get there, you never know what’s going to happen.”
Livingston Academy (27-7) clinched their return to the Glass House on the road at Region 3-3A champion Soddy Daisy (23-12).
Once a mainstay in the state tournament, Livingston had been on a 9-year state drought dating back to their last appearance in 2014. The 2023 trip will be Hogeye’s 20th appearance in the state tournament dating back to 1978 and the 8th trip in the last 20 years.
The Lady Wildcats were led Saturday by sophomore standout Ellie Butler, who scored 23 points in the victory. Senior Aleaha Melton posted 18 points along with 14 by Halle Ledbetter.
“I felt like their pressure man was a little too tight, and anything we ran with screens would be open,” Riddle said. “But more than that, our kids just knocked down shots. We did a great job finding each other at the right time.”
Soddy Daisy hung with Livingston Academy in the opening minutes of the game as LA led 6-4 midway through the first period. LA held a 14-7 lead with 2 minutes left in the first and held a 16-11 lead to end the opening period.
Soddy Daisy stayed alive in the second period as the Lady Trojans trailed 25-24 with 3 minutes left in the first half.
“Offensively, I thought they (Soddy Daisy) did a good job of taking advantage of our mistakes defensively,” Riddle said. “I think we came in a little too hyped up and were too aggressive defensively.”
LA withstood Soddy Daisy’s run and closed the first half strong to take a 34-26 lead into halftime.
The Lady Wildcats came out of the locker room red-hot as they outscored Soddy Daisy 17-8 in the frame to take a 51-34 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Livingston kept control in the final period as Riddle and the Lady Wildcats were able to play their entire roster to close out their 64-43 victory.
“I don’t think you can explain how special that is,” Riddle said. “We’re trying to rebuild something here, and these young freshmen need to understand what this feels like. We would like for this to not be a one-year thing.”
Livingston Academy is set to face Greeneville (27-8) in the Class 3A quarterfinals Tuesday morning at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro.
Livingston Academy (64): Ellie Butler 23, Aleaha Melton 18, Halle Ledbetter 14, Keely Mullins 7, Mallie-Gene Coleman 2