Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
If the opening game of the Class AA State Tournament in Brookhaven yesterday is a precursor to what the remainder of the week holds, take a deep breath, it could be wild.
Oak Hill topped Bowling Green 45-43 in opening play in the girl’s bracket on a 17’ jumper from sophomore Anna Ready with 3 seconds remaining in a nail-biter that produced 11 lead changes and was tied 11 times. The game winner followed a 3-pointer from Bowling Green sophomore Mackayla Dykes with 19 seconds remaining to tie the game at 43-43.
Oak Hill wrapped up a physical opening quarter, in which the Lady Raiders shot 10 free throws, holding a slim 9-8 lead and stretched their lead to 12-8 as Rachel Herndon drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key 24 seconds into the second quarter.
(Above) Tori Ellis (#3) of Oak Hill led the Lady Raiders with 11 pts
With Oak Hill clinging to a 13-10 at the 6:15 mark Bowling Green would finish the quarter on a 9-4 run on a 3-pointer from Beth Reedy, two Mackayla Dykes free throws and Melissa Crowe’s two transition baskets to give the Lady Bucs a 19-17 advantage at the half.
Melissa Crowe’s driving bucket to start the third quarter gave Bowling Green the biggest lead either team would enjoy at 21-17.
With Bowling Green maintaining a slim three point lead at 29-26 Oak Hill reeled off five straight points. Following a Maegen Ellis free throw the Lady Raiders cashed in on two consecutive Bowling Green turnovers as Tori Ellis and Maegen Ellis both converted on lay-ups to regain the lead at 31-29 with 1:21 left in the quarter.
Mackayla Dykes’ 7 footer off the glass knotted the game at 31-31 but Oak Hill would take a 33-31 lead into the final quarter on a Shay Atkins basket in the paint with 22 seconds remaining.
Bowling Green fired off four straight points to start the fourth quarter to regain the lead at 35-33 but the Lady Bucs would enjoy that lead for just over one minute as a Tori Ellis 3-pointer from the wing put Oak Hill back on top at 36-35 with 5:58 remaining and an Ellis steal and lay-in gave the Lady Raiders a slim three point cushion at 38-35. 
(Above) Mackayla Dykes (#2) of Bowling Green splits two Oak Hill defenders
Beth Reedy’s driving basket and 3 of 4 free throws from Mackayla Dykes on Bowling Green’s next three possessions gave the Lady Bucs a 40-38 advantage with 2:11 left in regulation but that would be the last lead Bowling Green would take.
Anna Ready nailed a 3-pointer from the wing at the 1:27 mark to put Oak Hill back on top at 41-40 and with 45 seconds remaining Tori Ellis expanded the lead to 43-40 as the junior canned two free throws.
Bowling Green answered with time at a premium. Mackayla Dykes was perfect on a 3-point attempt from the wing with a hand in her face to tie the game for the eleventh time at 43-43 with 19 seconds remaining.
Following an Oak Hill timeout the stage was set as the Lady Raiders quickly worked the ball down court and Tori Ellis found sophomore Anna Ready open on the wing and delivered the assist for the game winner from 17 feet as time ran out.
With the win Oak Hill (26-9) advances to the semi-finals and will take on top ranked Leake who defeated Prairie View 74-43 yesterday.
Tori Ellis and Maegen Ellis each had 11 points to lead 4th ranked Oak Hill, Rachel Herndon added 9, Paige Dawkins and Anna Ready had 6 apiece and Shay Atkins 2.
Bowling Green (20-11) and ranked #5 was led by Mackayla Dykes with 20 points, Melissa Crowe and Caroline Haik had 8 each and Beth Reedy 7.
Game Winning Shot Below
