For the fourth time in the last five year the Tullahoma Lady Wildcats have reached the district 8-3A championship game after the clipped Lawrence County 43-41 in a tightly contested semifinal between the long-time district rivals Friday night at Ralph Benson Memorial Gymnasium in Lawrenceburg.
As the higher Tullahoma was technically the home team in the matchup Friday but as the tournament host Lawrence County had the home court advantage and they took advantage jumping out to an early 7-0 as Tullahoma settled in after an 8-day layoff by virtue of earning the bye into the semifinals as the two seed. However, Tullahoma closed the first half on a 16-6 run to lead 16-13 at the break.
Lawrence County won a tightly contested third 15-12 to lead by one 28-27 after three. Tullahoma scored the first 7 points of the fourth and despite Lawrence County making a run to tie the game at 34 shortly after it was Tullahoma who came up with the timely baskets and defensive stops to hold on for the victory which also gives them a home game in the first round of the region tournament.
Lilly Melton led Tullahoma, who improves to 17-10 on the season, with 14 points. Katie Chriswell paced Lawrence County, who dropped to 21-7, with 12 points.
Both teams are back in action Monday night in Lawrenceburg to close out the district tournament.
Tullahoma faces topped seeded Lincoln County, who beat Page 50-35 in the first semifinal of the day, for the 8-3A championship at 7:30 LIVE on 93.9 The Duck!
Lawrence County and Page play for third to open the night at 6:00.
2023 District 8-3A Tournament Scores and Schedule
Monday February 13th Girls First Round
#4 Page 74 #5 Spring Hill 33
#3 Lawrence County 50 #6 Marshall County 33
Tuesday February 14th Boys First Round (at Higher Seed)
Marshall County 44 Lincoln County 42
Spring Hill 58 Tullahoma 56
Friday February 17th Girl’s Semifinals (at Lawrence County High School)
#1 Lincoln County 50 #4 Page 35
#2 Tullahoma 43 #3 Lawrence County 41
Boy’s Semifinals (at Lawrence County High School)
#1 Page 56 #4 Spring Hill 32
#2 Lawrence County 58 #3 Marshall County 55
Monday February 20th (at Lawrence County High School)
#3 Lawrence County vs #4 Page (Girl’s Consolation Game) 6:00
#1 Lincoln County vs #2 Tullahoma (Girl’s Championship Game) 7:30 LIVE on 93.9 The Duck
Tuesday February 21st (at Lawrence County High School)
#3 Marshall County vs #4 Spring Hill (Boy’s Consolation Game) 6:00
#1 Page vs #2 Lawrence County (Boy’s Championship Game) 7:30
