by Rusty Ellis

York Institute-Jackson County

The York Institute Dragonettes won their 11th straight game in their region semifinal victory over the Jackson County Lady Devils, as York rolled 59-22 into the championship.

Emma Pile got the proceedings going in a hurry with three first-quarter threes, keying an early 22-11 lead for York at the end of the first.

The second quarter saw the Dragonettes limit the Lady Devils to just five points in the quarter, adding up to a 35-16 halftime lead for York. Pile’s 11 first-half points paced the Dragonettes for the first 16 minutes of action.

Jackson County only mustered five more points in the third and a single point in the fourth, as York rolled to a 59-22 win and clinched both a spot in the Region 3-2A Championship and the substate round.

Emma Cooper paced York as whole with 13 points, while Pile and Reese Beaty each scored 11 points.

Jalynn Meadows led Jackson County with 10 points, as the Lady Devils wrapped up their season with a 20-13 record and a 3-5 mark in district play.

York will now take on Smith County, who took down Westmoreland, in the region title game on Wednesday.

Smith County-Westmoreland

The Lady Owls defense lifted them to victory, as they limited Westmoreland to just 21 points in a 26-point win on Monday night.

The defense got going early as well, limiting Westmoreland to just two points in the opening quarter. A pair of Chloe Collins threes helped give the Lady Owls a 14-2 lead going into the second quarter.

The Lady Eagles got some offense going in the second, but Smith County still outscored them 11-10 to take a 25-12 lead into the half.

The third once against saw the Lady Owl defense hold WHS to just two points, and they cruised to the finish line from there, thanks to three more Collins threes.

Collins wrapped up the performance with a game-high 17 points, while Emry Jones added 11. Airyn Enoch also contributed 10 points of her own to the effort, as Smith will now get set to face York for the fourth time this season on Wednesday.

York has won the previous three matchups by scores of 52-35, 56-42 and most recently, 41-36 in the District 5-2A Championship.