BACK TO THE SEMIS: Lady Cavaliers Defeat Lincoln County In State Quarterfinals

Story by Noah McKay

Photos by Michael Lindsay

MURFREESBORO –  The Cookeville Lady Cavaliers advanced to the final four of the TSSAA Class 4A State Tournament for the third time in four seasons with a 49-37 victory over Lincoln County on Thursday at the Murphy Center.

The Lady Cavs patented man-to-man defense held the Lady Falcons to 28% shooting as they avenged their regular season loss to LCHS and set up a matchup with Bartlett in the state semifinals.

“I really never thought we were going to lose,” said CHS head coach Jamie Gillies. “This team never quits. There’s pregame jitters. It’s a big stage to play on but once we got settled and figured out matchups I feel like we exposed them a little bit in the third quarter.”

The Lady Falcons made four triples in the first quarter, while Macy Hudson and Charlie Roby each scored four in the frame. Lincoln County led 14-8 at the end of the first.

The Lady Cavs answered by opening the second with two Callie Reeder layups and a three by Cara Lee Gilbert. A Hudson layup with 2:29 remaining gave CHS a 19-18 lead. A 6-0 Cookeville run in the final 1:12 made it 25-21 at halftime. 

Gilbert rattled off 11 straight points for the Lady Cavaliers to open the third quarter, stretching the lead to 36-25. The Lady Falcons never cut the deficit under eight in the fourth quarter and Kendyll McCloud, Roby, Hudson, Gilbert and Taniah Dirkson each made free throws as the Lady Cavs secured the 49-37 victory.

“Defensively we feel like we can guard and get up and down with anybody,” said Gillies. “When we can get up and guard we feel like it’s the best chance for us.”

Gilbert led the game with 19 points and seven rebounds. Roby scored 15 points with seven rebounds and five assists. Hudson scored seven points and added four rebounds.

“This team… they just don’t ever quit,” said Gillies. “We knew they shoot a lot of threes. You come out in the state tournament and have some jitters, but our defense has kept us in so many games.”

The Lady Cavs (25-7) will face Bartlett (24-11) in the state semifinals Friday. Tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. at the Murphy Center. 

“We’ve just got to play our game,” said Gillies. “They are going to be taller than us, probably at every spot. We’ll have to come out and be ready.”