Submitted photo For their efforts this season, Lilly Brown (left) was named to the District 9-4A all tournament team and Paige Blackburn earned regular season All-District honors.
STAFF REPORT
MANCHESTER — It took two overtimes, but in the end, the Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes’ ability to connect at the free throw line proved to be enough as Shelbyville knocked off Columbia, 63-58, to finish third in the District 9-4A tournament.
As a team, the Eaglettes went 9-of-13 attempts in the two overtimes, highlighted by Lanaya Young going a perfect 4-for-4 in the extra time.
Shelbyville had a slim, 24-21 lead after the first half, but a lop-sided third quarter allowed Columbia to claw back into the game.
After the Eaglettes were held to just two field goals in the third, Columbia rallied to a 35-30 lead after the third quarter, with Anaya Mullholland connecting on a pair of 3-pointers, and Saviya Morgan adding five more points for the Lady Lions.
Fouls became an issue in the fourth, and the Eaglettes made the Lady Lions pay, going 7-of-8 attempts in the quarter.
Lilly Brown added six more points in the quarter as well.
As a team, the Eaglettes shot 22-of-30 tries at the charity stripe.
The Eaglettes also placed three in double figures, with senior Paige Blackburn turning in one of the finest performances of her career, totaling 27 points to lead all scorers.
Brown added 18 and Young chipped in 11 as well.
With the win on Monday night, the Eaglettes will travel to the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Region 5-4A tournament on Friday night.
Shelbyville 12 12 6 17 16 — 63
Columbia 8 13 14 12 11 — 58
Shelbyville: Paige Blackburn 27, Lilly Brown 18, Lanaya Young 11, Jaz Western 5, Yasmine McFarland 2.
Columbia: Saviya Morgan 18, Anaya Mullholland 12, Kayla Crawford 10, Brooklyn Duke 7, Tionna Davis 6, KK Bailey 3, Synthia Angus 2.
3-Point goals: Shelbyville (5): Blackburn 4, Western; Columbia (3): Mullholland 3.
Halftime score: Shelbyville 24, Columbia 21.
