Scott Central, Kelly advance in tourney

DELTA - The Scott County Central and Delta girls basketball teams will likely meet four times this season.

With a 43-40 win by the Bravettes (10-2) on Thursday in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Delta, the teams are all squared at one game apiece.

Scott County, the third seed, will face No. 1 Kelly in the finals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Kelly knocked off No. 4 Scott City 56-37 in the other semifinal.

Second-seeded Delta defeated Scott County in the semifinals of the Lady Red Devils Invitational Tournament on Dec. 9. Delta will host Scott County on Feb. 24 in the season finale for both teams, and a meeting in the sectional round of the state playoffs is likely.

Scott County coach Semona Penrod said Thursday's win was a big one for her squad.

"We came out and played with a lot of intensity," she said.

The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than four points. There were 10 lead changes in the game and six ties. Scott County took the lead for good on a Brittany Godwin jumper - her only basket of the game - with less than two minutes remaining.

Delta had an opportunity to take the lead with under a minute left, but after getting a steal the Bobcats immediately turned the ball back over. Janet Penrod then made two free throws with 14 seconds left to put Scott County up three, and a long 3-pointer from Kaci Menz was off the mark in the final seconds.

Brittney Peet led all scorers with 20 points.

"When she comes to play, she can be phenomenal," Semona Penrod said of Peet.

Rachel Ware led Delta with 15 points, and Menz added 12.

"We're inconsistent," Delta coach Randy White said of his team's performance. "We have a decent ball club, but we're inconsistent."

In the other semifinal game, Kelly led throughout.

Kelly Essner led the Hawks with 13 points, Stephanie Hency had 12, and Leigh Ann Buchheit had 10.

Kelly Hicks led Scott City with 13 points, and Christy Laxton scored 10.

Bobbie Jones scored 15 points and Kylie Werner added 11 to lead once-beaten Jackson in a 63-23 victory Thursday night against winless Central.

Jackson (13-1) poured in seven 3-pointers and limited visiting Central to no more than 10 points in any period and six in the entire second half.

"We substituted five at a time and the bench came in and gave us a lift, which is good," Jackson coach Sam Sides said. "If we can keep that up, that will help us a lot."

Werner made two of Jackson's seven treys. Loni Littlepage added nine points, Kelly Loos scored seven and Tara Kelley scored seven with two 3-pointers.

Erica Schabbing was the only player in double figures for Central (0-13) with 10 points.