The Ethel Lady Tigers finished the year with a 13-12 overall record and were 5-3 in Region 5-1A as well. The Lady Tigers won their first game in the Region 5-1A Tournament in Coffeeville last Tuesday night against French Camp, but dropped their next game to McAdams on Thursday night. The Lady Tigers rebounded to earn the No. 3 seed out of Region 5-1A with a win over Montgomery County before falling in the first round of the MHSAA Class 1A Playoffs to Lumberton on Monday night.
In the French Camp win, the Lady Tigers led 23-4 after one quarter of play and 36-7 at the half. French Camp pushed the score to 47-25 after three quarters of play but were unable to keep up with the Lady Tigers fourth quarter scoring barrage, and fell to Ethel 73-38. The leaders for the Lady Tigers were Dejah Merritt with nine points; Bridges Pinkard with five points; Akilah Erving with 21 points; Amiracle Edwards with 11 points; Takia Miller with six points; Carlye Pender with 13 points and Dotty Townsend with six points.
In last Thursday night’s 59-26 loss to McAdams, the Lady Tigers fell behind early, scoring only 11 first-half points. The loss pushed the Lady Tigers into the consolation game with Montgomery County to determine the No. 3 and 4 seeds in Region 5-1A. The leaders for the Lady Tigers were Merritt with two points; Erving with 16 points and Townsend with eight points.
In the Lady Tigers third game of the tournament on Friday for the No. 3 seed, they quickly fell behind 14-5 after one quarter of play and trailed 24-12 at the half. The Lady Tigers came out of the intermission firing on all cylinders by outscoring the Lady Hornets 19-3 in the third quarter and 18-10 in the fourth to take the 49-37 win and the No. 3 seed. The leaders for Ethel were Erving with 13points; Edwards with six points; Pender with 12 points and Townsend with 16 points.
After earning the No. 3 seed, the Lady Tigers traveled to Lumberton, the No. 2 seed out of Region 8-1A, on Monday night but lost the contest 55-43. The Lady Panthers jumped on the Lady Tigers early and led 21-9 after one quarter of play and 31-15 at the half. The Lady Tigers outscored Lumberton 28-24 in the second half but came up short, ending their season. The leaders for Ethel were Erving with 27 points; Edwards with three points and Townsend with nine points.
