JUNIOR LADY BEARCATS REACH DISTRICT FINALS

The Booneville Junior High Lady Bearcats went into the District 3A-4 tournament as a five seed. At 1 p.m. on Saturday they will play in the championship game.

To get there the Lady Bearcats beat fourth seeded Danville 38-27 last Saturday then took down top seeded Hackett 38-30 last night.

In both games eighth grader Haylee Taylor (shown) led the way. She had 19 points in the opener and followed that up with 18 points in the semifinals. In both games she was especially dangerous in the first half.

Against Danville Taylor had 13 points by halftime and had hit three times from 3 point range. She went on to hit five 3s on the night.

Taylor’s eight point second quarter, with three from Pressley Walker, helped the Lady Bearcats break away from a 6-4 lead to one of 16-6.

Held to a single point in the first half Tempi Terry scored twice and had a free throw and Raelynn Franklin joined the scoring attack in the third quarter as well and the lead grew to 29-12.

Danville would score 15 points in the final quarter but the Lady Bearcats got a Taylor 3 and Anna Ferguson chipped in four points, including a pair of free throws.

The Lady Bearcats also got crucial free throws from Taylor Villarreal and Franklin to keep the Lady Little Johns at bay.

Against Hackett Taylor also had 13 points at the intermission but had accomplished it with just one 3. She would hit a second in a five point third quarter.

Taylor accounted for all of the Lady Bearcats scoring from the floor in the first quarter but Terry and Ferguson added free throws for a 9-7 lead.

Walker scored four second quarter points and the Lady Bearcats were able to extend their lead to 21-14.

By holding Hackett to just five points in the quarter, the Lady Bearcats were able to extend the lead to double digits 29-19 in the third quarter.

Walker completed an eight point night with another four points in the final quarter and Terry scored four of her seven in the quarter to help propel the Lady Bearcats into the finals.

The Lady Bearcats will face Charleston in the finals.