The Ethel girls' basketball season came to an end with an 82-48 loss to a talented McEvans team in the opening round of the 1A playoffs.
Ethel trailed 47-34 at the half. “We managed to break them out of their full court press,” said coach Corey Parish. “We did a good job of controlling tempo in the first half and taking advantage of back door cuts.
“However, in the second half they switched to a tight man (defense) and we did not handle their athleticism well. They have three really athletic guards, two of which (Kayla Howard and Katelyn Coleman) could play for just about anyone in the state.”
The Lady Tigers were outscored 35-14 in the second half.
Ethel qualified for the playoffs with a 30-27 victory over Leake County in the opening round of the Region 6-1A tournament. Zantavia Clark supplied the winning margin, breaking a 27-27 with a free throw and a basket in the final 45 seconds.
Ethel finished fourth in the tournament with losses to regular season and tournament champion Sebastopol 36-23 in the semifinals and French Camp 53-37 in the third-place game.
Clark missed the French Camp game with the flu. She returned against McEvans and led Ethel with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists. Abbie Ellington had 14 points and seven rebounds, Nicole Patrick nine points, three rebounds and two assists, Jaterika Merritt six points and four rebounds and Katy Jo Newman four rebounds and two points.
In the absence of Clark, Newman led the Lady Tigers against French Camp with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Patrick scored 11 points.
“I have been pleased with our young players, especially over the past four or five ballgames,” Parish said. “They have really stepped up, especially Zantavia Clark, Jalynn Black and Katy Jo Newman These three young ladies have played hard and improved tremendously. Jalynn Black went from about 12 minutes a game as a sub to 20-plus minutes as a starter. Zantavia is beginning to mature and see the game.”
All three are underclassmen. “Next year will be a breakout year for those three along with Tearshanae Mallett, Nicole Patrick and Mollie Sisson.”
McEavns is one of the state's best 1A teams with an 18-4 record. The Lady Hawks were the top seed from 5-1A after upsetting previously unbeaten Simmons in the 5-1A final. McEvans’ only two losses to 1A opposition came against Simmons.
