Jefferson County, last year’s tournament runnerup, advanced with a 46-42 win over East Hamilton’s Lady Hurricanes.
With the score tied at 36-36 early in the final period, Jeff’s Cayla Smith knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to spread Jeff’s lead, and they were able to hold on down the stretch as the Hurricanes could not get a shot to fall in the closing two minutes.
Madison Hayes of East Hamilton, a Mississippi State signee, scored 27 points and had 14 rebounds, hit a pair of free throws with 2:40 left to carve the Patriots lead down to 44-42, but they would not score again.
Smith finished with 15 points to lead the Pats (9-3) while Makayla Alvey had 11 points and 10 rebounds. East Hamilton’s (6-9) Hayes added five steals and three assists to go along with her 27 point, 14 rebound performance.
EAST HAMILTON (42): Lacy 2-8 0-0 4, Madison Hayes 8-21 11-11 27, Mc.Hayes 1-8 0-0 2, Petitt 0-0 0-0 0, Laboo 2-4 0-0 4, Evans 0-2 0-0 0, Copeland 0-0 0-0 0, Bone 1-4 3-4 5. TOTALS: 14-47 14-15 42.
JEFFERSON COUNTY (46): Gramann 0-5 4-4 4, Makayla Alvey 3-9 4-6 11, Cayla Smith 5-8 0-0 15, McMahan 1-3 4-4 6, Denton 2-6 0-0 5, Scales 1-3 3-5 5, M.Alvey 0-0 0-0 0, Johnston 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 12-34 15-19 46.
3-Point Goals: EH—0. JC—7 (Smith 5, M.Alvey, Denton).
Score by quarters:
East Hamilton 13 7 12 10—42
Jefferson County 9 14 7 16—46
