By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
HANCEVILLE - Athens came into the Northwest Regional tournament intent on limiting the production of Brewer’s guards.
So Kendra Jones and the rest of Brewer’s frontcourt made Athens pay dearly in Tuesday’s 63-54 win over the Lady Eagles in the Class 5A regional semifinals at Wallace State Community College’s Tom Drake Coliseum.
Jones led Brewer’s inside game, finishing with a game-high 18 points after hitting seven of 11 shots from the field.
Morgan Crawley added 14 points for the Lady Patriots, while Krista Hughes chipped in with eight points.
Brewer also got solid production from several other players who took advantage of the Athens game plan to stop Emily Dabbs and Hughes.
Elizabeth Bromirski finished with six points, while Heather Steelman and Chelsey Smith added five points each in the win.
Brewer will be making its second straight appearance in the Northwest Regional finals. The Lady Patriots, who improved to 29-2 overall with the win, will face the Fairfield Lady Tigers in the championship game at 9 a.m. Friday.
“For the seniors, this is our last chance,” Jones said. “We want more than anything to get at least to the Final Four.”
Athens finished its season with a 24-8 record with its second loss to Brewer in three meetings between the two teams.
The Lady Eagles’ Ashley Jackson and Lecrisha Horton scored 13 points each in the loss. Karschella Toney added nine points.
Brewer held a 40-33 rebounding advantage in the semifinals, a fact that Allen didn’t overlook. In all three meetings this season between the two teams, the team that held the advantage rebounding has won the game.
Jones had a team-high seven rebounds, while three players - Hughes, Crawley and Dabbs - added five rebounds each.
Athens led briefly in the second quarter after an Elizabeth Schexnayder putback put the Lady Eagles in front 25-24.
But Brewer quickly answered with a drive from Jones and a pair of free throws from Dabbs.
Brewer established a 51-40 lead early in the fourth quarter on a bucket by Crawley, but Athens rallied with 10 straight points over the next two minutes to trim the margin to just one point at 51-50.
But Crawley completed a three-point play with 3:37 remaining and Athens never got any closer.