HANCEVILLE – It was going to take a valiant effort from the Priceville varsity girls basketball team to hold off 4A No. 1 Deshler after taking a 26-22 lead into the half. Ultimately the Bulldogs fell short in a 61-42 loss to the Tigers in the Northwest Regional Semifinal on Saturday afternoon.

Deshler (31-2) seized control in the second half outscoring Priceville 39-16 in the second half to advance to the Regional Final on Wednesday. Karleigh Sledge – a Jacksonville State signee – tallied 17 points and controlled the paint on both ends of the floor for the Tigers.

“We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game from the beginning,” said Priceville head coach Terrie Nelson. “I’m proud of these girls. I thought they really were fearless. I asked them to go as hard as they could and I thought they did that today. I’m proud of the year they have had.”

Skyler Benson scored a team-high 15 points for the Bulldogs in the loss. Kathleen Wheeler finished with 13. Priceville finishes its season with a 21-8 record.