Defense steps up in Eaglette win

Junior Katlin Buchanan makes a move down the baseline for the Eaglettes. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

GREENEVILLE -- The Shelbyville Central defense continues to dominate while the offense looks to be starting to click as the Eaglettes defeated Knoxville Farragut 59-48 in an elimination game to advance in the 20th annual GreenBank Ladies' Classic Tuesday afternoon.

After a disappointing opening round loss, the Eaglettes (9-5) have regrouped nicely and faced Cocke County today for seventh place. The best a team could finish in this tournament with an opening round loss is seventh.

As much as coach Lynn Burkey would like to be playing for the tournament championship, the Eaglettes survived to play on the final day and that is a positive after an opening round loss.

"Advancing to the final day is huge because this is just another chance for us to play a quality team and it's also an opportunity for us to grow and get closer together as a team," Burkey said. "We've only got three seniors and there is still so many things we've got to learn as a team so anything you're able to play in a game is a learning experience."

The Eaglettes never trailed against Farragut (11-3) and posted a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter when freshman Kelsie Smith scored, was fouled and converted the 3-point play in the closing minute of the quarter.

Shelbyville outscored the Lady Admirals 19-13 in the second stanza led by huge 3-pointers by Janie Graves, Kayla Whorley and Hannah Dawson to make the score 43-32 at intermission.

The Eaglettes led as much as 39-25 off a 3-pointer by Ceny Phelps before settling for a 43-32 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Phelps canned another 3-pointer at the 5:59 mark of the fourth quarter to give Shelbyville a 50-36 lead, but the Lady Admirals scored six unanswered points to draw within eight with 4:36 left to play.

The Eaglette defense didn't allow a field goal from that point and canned free throws down the stretch for good measure.

Junior point guard Janie Graves prepares to take Farragut's Stephanie Torrence to the basket for two of her 13 points. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"All season long it seems like we've struggled to put teams away," Burkey said. "We open up a good lead then we don't make good decisions to put a team away. I thought when we got up 14 points it was time to deliver the knockout punch but we didn't do it. That's something we can work on in practice."

Dawson and Phelps continue to produce on offense with Graves joining in on the scoring this time around. Samford University-bound Dawson scored a game-high 18 points, Graves contributed 13 while unsigned Phelps added 10.

Shelbyville controlled the boards, outrebounding their opponent 35-29. Whorley hauled in nine, Graves grabbed seven and Dawson had six.

"Hannah and Ceny has really been carrying the load for us on offense and it was great to see Janie step up and join them in double figures," Burkey said. "We also had some others step up and do a good job on the boards for us."

Hayley Newby led Farragut with a dozen points and eight rebounds.