Bowling Green advances with 30th win

Southern Sports & Travel

The second ranked Bowling Green Lady Bucs improved to 30-2 and advanced to the semi-finals of the Class AA South State Tournament with a 47-27 win over Columbia last night in Mendenhall. Junior Caroline Haik led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points and Bowling Green limited Columbia to 7 first half points to earn a spot in Friday’s semi-finals against the winner of today’s Adams Christian/Lamar contest.

Neither Bowling Green or Columbia was able to get into an offense rhythm early on. Bowling Green got on the board at the 5:37 mark on a Caroline Haik 10 foot jumper from the baseline. Following two Mackayla Dykes free throws Bowling Green extended their lead to 6-0 at the 2:51 mark when Reagan Moody converted on a baseline drive.

Columbia’s Sissy Price pulled down an offensive rebound and scored with 2:06 left in the quarter but Bowling Green would take an 8-2 advantage into the second quarter after a Melissa Crowe 15 foot jumper in the closing seconds.

Bowling Green increased their lead to 13-2 in the second quarter on an Ashley Foret 3-pointer from the wing and Reagan Moody’s basket in the paint with 4:12 remaining in the half.

Foret drained a 15 footer to close out the half with the second ranked Lady Bucs holding an 18-7 lead.

 (Above) Melissa Crowe (#12) of Bowling Green launches a shot in the paint during the second half 

Bowling Green took their biggest lead at the 6:39 mark of the third quarter when Melissa Crowe sank an 18 foot jumper to increase the lead to 20-9.

Columbia managed to cut the deficit to 8 points at 22-14 on a Sissy Price offensive rebound and put back at the 4:13 mark but Bowling Green closed out the quarter strong.

Junior point guard Mackayla Dykes canned two free throws and followed up with a 15 foot jumper to push the Lady Buc’s lead to 26-14 with 2:35 left in the quarter. Sophomore Melissa Crowe’s 3-pointer from the wing with 3 seconds remaining gave Bowling Green a 29-15 lead heading into the final quarter of play.

Columbia would get no closer than 13 points in the fourth quarter. Bowling Green stretched the lead to 40-20 midway through the period and went on to a 47-27 win.

For Bowling Green, Caroline Haik led all scorers with 14 points, Ashley Foret added 10, Mackayla Dykes and Melissa Crowe 9 apiece and Reagan Moody 5.

Sissy Price led Columbia (18-13) with 10 points, Meredith Bass added 9, Jacklyn Wilkes 5 and Anna Wilks 2.