Oak Ridge senior Desiree Bates (20) scored 17 points for the Lady Wildcats in a 62-38 District 3-AAA semifinal win over Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
HALLS—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play in the District 3-AAA basketball tournament championship on Saturday. It’s the third year in a row that the girls have made it to the district championship.
On Friday at Halls, Oak Ridge advanced to the championship game by beating Powell 62-38 in a district tournament semifinal game after trailing 21-14 at halftime.
Oak Ridge was led by junior Jada Guinn with 18 points. Ten of those were in the first half, which was most of the Lady Wildcats’ offense in the first two quarters. Guinn shot 8-for-8 from the free throw line during the game.
Senior Desiree Bates scored 17. She had three three-point shots in the third quarter, when the Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Panthers 30-8.
Powell was led by senior Haley Schubert, who had a game-high 19 points. Schubert fouled out with five fouls at 2:52 in the fourth quarter.
No other Lady Panther scored more than six points.
Oak Ridge had one other player in double digits, senior Mykia Dowdell, who scored 10.
The Lady Wildcats will play the winner of the other District 3-AAA semifinal game in the championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Halls High School. The other semifinal game, which started at 5:30 p.m. Friday, was between Campbell County and Clinton. Campbell County led 27-18 at the half.
The Lady Wildcats also host a Region 2-AAA tournament game on Friday at 7 p.m., according to broadcaster David Clary.
Oak Ridge won the district championship last year, beating Powell 59-34.
The Lady Wildcats also won the year before, defeating Campbell County 52-34.
This year, Campbell County and Oak Ridge, both 13-1 in District 3-AAA during the regular season, had one district loss each. The Lady Wildcats beat the Lady Cougars once (60-44 on February 8) and lost once (56-54 on January 30).
Also Friday, the Oak Ridge boys will play Anderson County at 8:30 p.m. at Halls in a District 3-AAA semifinal game. The other boys semifinal game, featuring Powell and Karns, is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Scoring for the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats during a District 3-AAA district tournament semifinal game against Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018.
Scoring for the Powell Lady Panthers during a District 3-AAA district tournament semifinal game against Oak Ridge at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018.
