GRAYSON — Elliott County girls basketball has forged its own place in the spotlight.
The Lady Lions’ first trip to the regional tournament will be as district champion.
Coach Mark Cantrell and his players embraced the moment after Elliott County withstood an East Carter comeback for a 60-58 victory in the 62nd District title game Thursday night.
As the final second ticked off, Cantrell walked onto the court at Harold Holbrook Athletic Complex with both arms raised above his head.
“It’s been a three-year process,’’ said Cantrell, whose team also secured its first 20-win season Thursday night. “We came here with the intention of winning a championship. I got them to buy into the reasons we could do it. We’ve seen our community get behind this team, and the girls believed.’’
Elliott County’s postseason success was a long time in the making. The program dropped 26 consecutive district tournament games before back-to-back wins this week.
East Carter nearly snatched away the prize, rallying from a 13-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter.
Katherine White’s 3-pointer sliced the lead to 57-56 with just under a minute remaining.
After Elliott County’s Shae Ferguson sank a free throw to make it 60-58 with 19 seconds left, White got another good look from behind the 3-point line in the closing seconds. But the ball bounced off the rim and into Shae Ferguson’s hands.
“This means everything, especially being my senior year,’’ said Ferguson, who led the Lady Lions with 18 points. “I couldn’t ask for any more. Now we’re looking to the region.’’
Both teams will move on to the 16th Region Tournament beginning Monday at Morehead State University.
Elliott County pulled off a difficult feat by defeating East Carter for the third time this season.
“People said to me that it’s hard to beat a good team three times,’’ Cantrell said. “We beat West Carter three times and now East Carter three times. It took every second to do it.’’
The Lady Lions improved to 20-8 with their 11th straight win since the state All “A’’ Classic.
“They are very deserving,’’ said East Carter coach Hager Easterling said. “They beat us three times in three very hard-fought games that could have gone either way. Elliott is on a roll right now. They will be a tough out next week in Morehead no matter how the draw turns out.’’
At the same time, Easterling said East Carter had only itself to blame for having to play catch-up in the district final. The Lady Raiders turned the ball over eight times in the opening quarter and trailed the rest of the way.
“We dug ourselves into a hole that we shouldn’t have been in,’’ Easterling said. “We played tight offensively most of the first 28 minutes.’’
Elliott County limited East Carter to 36-percent shooting from the field and helped force 18 turnovers.
“Defense was the main thing tonight,’’ Shae Ferguson said. “We were anticipating passes and getting there at the right time.’’
As usual, the Lady Lions won with balance. Kelsey Ferguson had 15 points, while Jhonda Ison and Lakin Griffith each scored 12.
Ison, who fouled out with three minutes left, gave Elliott County a boost in the second half by going 3-for-3 on 3-pointers.
East Carter (19-9) got 15 points and 12 rebounds from junior forward Jessica Marshall. Lindsay Combs had 11 points and eight rebounds and White finished with 10 points.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kristin Perry (West Carter), Leslie Eagle (Morgan County), Jessica Marshall (East Carter), Shae Ferguson (Elliott County), Monica Stevens (West Carter), Faith Slone (Morgan County), Lindsay Combs (East Carter), Lakin Griffith (Elliott County), Kristin Easterling (East Carter), Kelsey Ferguson (Elliott County), Whitney Fannin (Elliott County).
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Elliott fights off East
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