SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – The 3-seed Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes (15-9, 6-4) opened the District 9-AAAA Tournament with a 12-point win over the 6-seed Columbia Central Lady Lions (5-19, 1-9), 49-37, inside of Rick Insell Gymnasium on Monday night.

Lanaya Young led all scorers with 21 points, including 15 coming in the second half as the Eaglettes pulled away after leading by five at halftime. Young was the only one to reach double-digits for the hosts. 

For Columbia, Natasia Barner was the only Lady Lion that scored in double-figures with a team-high 11 points, seven of which came at the free-throw line in the second half. Tristia Shaw and Kylee Martin chipped in with eight points apiece, but it was not enough to overcome the Eaglettes. 

To start, both teams struggled to take the lid off the basket, ending the first quarter tied, 4-4. Young and Jada Berry scored the two field goals for Shelbyville while Shaw and Brooklyn Duke each scored two points for the visitors. Unfortunately for Shelbyville, starting point guard, Jaz Western, went down awkwardly late in the opening period with what looked to be a left leg injury, and she did not return.

In the second quarter, Shelbyville Central began to turn their defense into offense. On the night as a whole, the Eaglettes forced 16 Columbia turnovers, and they began to capitalize off of those in the second period. Young and Yasmine McFarland each scored four points in the frame. Janiya Leslie, who scored 22 points in the previous meeting, connected from downtown, and Jada Berry completed an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Eaglettes a 20-15 lead going into the halftime locker room.

Coming out for the second half, Shelbyville began to distance themselves from the last-place team in the district, outscoring Columbia, 14-8, to take a 34-23 lead going into the final frame. Morgan Pridmore led the way for the Eaglettes with all six of her points on the night coming in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Young began to take over for the Eaglettes, scoring 11 of her 21 in the period to close out the Lady Lions. She went 3/3 at the charity stripe to go along with her four two-point field goals as Shelbyville outscored Columbia, 15-14, to advance to the district 9-AAAA semifinal against Lincoln County with a 49-37 win.

Columbia Central’s season ends at 5-19 (1-9).

Shelbyville Central advances to play Lincoln County on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. in the district semifinal at Rick Insell Gymnasium, LIVE on WLIJ 98.7 and AM 1580.