Creek Wood might have seen their boys’ season come to an end, but the Lady Red Hawks just keep soaring to all too familiar heights.
After a 48-35 win over Maplewood and a statement-making 58-32 victory over Murfreesboro Central Magnet, Creek Wood will now host a second consecutive Sub-State game.
Saturday at 7, 18-8 Hardin County will come to Charlotte, TN.
More on that in a minute though.
Going into the Maplewood game we asked the question, had Creek Wood seen enough real competition?
Sure throughout the regular season, they played Summertown, Community, Loretto, but what about the postseason?
Well, Maplewood changed all that.
While the Lady Red Hawks were clearly the superior team, they struggled with the quickness and athleticism of the Lady Panthers.
The game was tight up and until the fourth quarter where Creek Wood down the stretch showed their maturity pulling away.
They also stepped up defensively holding Maplewood to just twelve second-half points.
That being said they struggled to rebound and not turn the ball over.
Scoring was also at a premium.
Managing just forty-eight points, three Lady Red Hawks were in double-figures but nothing to write home about.
Brianna Burgess had fourteen, Laura Nichols and Alessia Nesbitt had thirteen apiece.
Great job to spread the ball around, but cannot lose the rebounding and turnover battle.
They got the memo against the Lady Cats.
Not only did all three score in double figures, again, but Abby Owen pitched in another eleven.
Creek Wood also went on two massive runs showing an ability to out rebound and turn a team over for long stretches.
A 13-2 run in the first four minutes and twenty-five seconds of the second quarter saw Creek Wood take a 26-11 lead.
They would lead 27-17 at the half, and never look back.
In the fourth quarter, Creek Wood outscored the Lady Cats twenty to six.
The Lady Red Hawks also proved yet again they can defend and counteract really good teams, with a great player.
Olivia Hart had twenty points for the game. A decent total considering her talent.
However, the rest of her team had twelve total.
That is because of elite defense and pressure defensively by Creek Wood.
Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty to learn from this game.
The Lady Red Hawks continue to struggle at times with size and length.
Long defenders give them problems in passing lanes and on the boards.
Olivia Hart had double-digit rebounds and several of her twenty points came on second or third chances.
Have to clean that up and make more decisive passes at times.
That being said, with the win Creek Wood dodged a bullet.
Hardin County is a good team.
It has been an up and down year for them though, and they have to drive two hours to the Lady Red Hawks home floor.
Meanwhile, Central Magnet has to travel two-plus hours to play a Jackson South Side team that is 21-2 and has not lost a game since Loretto on December 29th.
We will see if the lessons learned in the region tournament are applied beginning at 7 pm on Saturday night.
Tune in for pre-game between Creek Wood and Hardin County at 6:45.
