Portageville earns first district crown in 20 years

~Lady Bulldogs explode in the third quarter to beat Kelly

PORTAGEVILLE -- Before their district championship game Thursday night, Portageville's Mallory Bidewell said her team read Bible scriptures to give them strength prior to taking the court. One in particular noted, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."

Portageville showed their heart in the second half of Thursday's Class 3, District 1 championship game, rallying to defeat Kelly 53-34, winning their first district title in 20 years.

"I'm just proud of the way our girls have worked so hard all year long and they've dedicated themselves and encouraged each other and this was our goal," said Portageville coach Eric Ellerbrook.

Now the Lady Bulldogs can set their goals a little higher when they hit the road to the state final four. Portageville will travel to Poplar Bluff Wednesday night at 6 p.m. when they will take on the winner of Greenville/Twin Rivers match-up held tonight in sectional action.

Portageville's Kellye Penn puts up a shot over Kelly's Tara Johnson and Debra Hall

Portageville's Kellye Penn puts up a shot over Kelly's Tara Johnson and Debra Hall

However, for the first half of play it appeared as though Kelly would be booking the trip to Poplar Bluff with their fourth district championship in-a-

row.

With Kelly's pressure defense to go along with the cold shooting hand of Portageville, the Lady Hawks managed to build a 12-8 advantage after eight minutes of play. They continued to add to their lead, extending it to double digits three minutes into the second quarter with the score 18-8.

Unfortunately for the No. 2 seed, the ten-point cushion was soon short-lived as Portageville was just beginning to find their range. And after a 3-pointer from both Courtney Chamberlain and Bidewell, the Lady Bulldogs seemed to find new life.

"My dad told me before the game that points aren't everything that matters. If I go out there, shoot and don't make it, keep shooting it anyways and that kind of stuck in my head," Bidewell said. "I was thinking if they're gonna leave me open I'm gonna take the opportunity to do what I can and make sure that this isn't my last night on the court."

Mary Hannah Fisher

Mary Hannah Fisher

Portageville was able to cut the deficit to 23-18 at halftime and seemed to be picking up momentum.

"I think we were a little nervous at the start of the game," Ellerbrook said. "We came out and Kelly played great defense against us and we missed a lot of shots. But I thought our girls finally got their feet underneath them and began picking things up in the second quarter."

However, things really began to pick up for the Lady Bulldogs in the third quarter. After opening the second half with a 6-0 run, the host team began living up to their state-ranking (second in Class 2) as another 10-0 run helped to cap off a 26-point third quarter for Portageville. This would give the top seed a 44-34 lead through three quarters of play. And that would be all the Lady Bulldogs would need as they would go on to seal the game with free throws in the fourth while holding the Lady Hawks scoreless in the final eight.

Portageville was lead by Jeleea Drake with 16 points while Brittney Walker chipped in 13. Both Drake and Walker recorded 11 rebounds as well.

Senior leader Kellye Penn also got in on the action with nine points and 10 rebounds.

"We've worked really hard all year long to get where we're at and tonight we were ready to do whatever it took to get the win," said Penn. "It wasn't easy but we came out, hustled and played really well as a team. I'm just proud of our team and I'm happy to be a part of it."

Kelly was led by senior Kayla Cissell's 11 points and seven rebounds. Debra Hall and Tara Johnson each finished with eight points respectively.

"I am so proud of each and everyone one of my girls," said Kelly head coach Rod McQuerter. "Our girls never quit. They gave me everything and left everything they had out on that floor.

"But tonight Portageville was the better team. Coach Ellerbrook has done a great job with his girls and I wish them the best on their road to the state final four."

The loss ends Kelly's season at 17-8 as the Lady Hawks will lose three seniors: Cissell, Sarah Ruff and Lela Deason.

"I want to thank me seniors, they competed every night and the younger girls saw that and wanted to win for the older girls," McQuerter said. "My seniors set the foundation. If you play with a positive attitude and play hard as a team good things will happen and they did tonight."