(Southeastern's Ella Skeens pictured above vs Oak Hill)
Southeastern's Lady Panthers won their fourth straight sectional basketball title with a 53-45 decision over Oak Hill. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, but was postponed to Sunday afternoon due to a freak snow storm.
Southeastern never trailed in the game and found themselves holding their biggest lead of the contest at 39-18 at halftime. However, Oak Hill scored the first 11 points of the second half and in the fourth quarter got the deficit down to 48-43, before the Lady Panthers put the game in ice. Turnovers hampered Southeastern, committing 16 to Oak Hill's 11.
While the Lady Oaks were heating up in the second half with a 67% shooting third period, Southeastern shot 33% in the third and 14% in the fourth quarter. Both teams made 19 field goals for the game, but SE was aided by 6 more made free throws and four more three-point goals.
Southeastern was 19/43 from the field for 44%- including 6/15 from the arc and 11/18 at the foul line. Oak Hill went 19/41 from the field for 46%- including 2/10 from the arc. They were 5/8 from the charity stripe. The Panthers also were greatly helped on the boards, out-rebounding the Ladt Oaks 27-12.
Ella Skeens led all players with 24 points and 10 rebounds, as she also surpassed Kelly Downs as Southeastern's all-time leading scorer. She now is only 16 points shy of tying the SVC/Ross County record of 2,255 held by Kristal Tharp.
Mandy Morris added 9 points for Southeastern, while McKinley Mitten had 6, Skylar Hice had 5 points and 8 rebounds, Hunter Adams dropped-in 5 points and Rachel Collins and Cidney Huff each scored 2. Collins was slowed by being out with the flu most of the week.
Oak Hill was led by Caitlyn Brisker's 19 points and Payton Crabtree with 12.
Southeastern improves to (20-4) and advances to the Waverly District Semi against Eastern Brown, Thursday at 8pm. Eastern Brown stopped the Lady Panthers tournament run at the district finals last year, 40-27.
(Southeastern players cut down the nets at Jackson HS following their section championship)