By Michael Lindsay
The District 5-2A girls championship trophy is returning to Jamestown for the third consecutive season as the York Institute Dragonettes defeated Smith County on Monday, 41-36.
Sophomore forward Emma Cooper led the Dragonettes with 13 points in Tuesday’s championship along with 9 points each by tournament MVP Reese Beaty and Cali Franklin. Merissa Spivey led Smith County with 12 followed by 11 from Chloe Collins.
York Institute opened the contest on an 8-2 run before the Lady Owls tied the contest at 8 via a Collins three-pointer with 4:42 left in the opening quarter.
The Dragonettes regained control as they outscored Smith County 9-2 over the final 4 minutes of the opening frame to take a 17-10 lead into the second.
Smith County battled back in the second quarter as they outscored York Institute 8-3 in the frame to trail by two points at halftime, 20-18.
The game stayed close throughout the third quarter as York held a 32-29 lead entering the fourth quarter, where they closed out to win the District 5-2A crown by a 41-36 final score.
Both teams will host first round games in the Region 3-2A tournament Friday at 7 p.m. as York hosts White House Heritage while Smith County hosts Liberty Creek.
