Central girls top White Station to win sixth straight district championship

from Commercial Appeal

 After stumbling through their last championship game test, the Central Lady Warriors looked like their old title-winning selves Friday.

Baylor signee Nina Davis led the way with 34 points as Central built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and cruised to an 80-55 victory over White Station in the championship game of the District 16-AAA tournament at Hamilton.

The victory gives Central (22-4) its sixth straight district tournament title — and comes on the heels of a disappointing loss to Ridgeway in the MIAA Class AAA city championship game last Saturday at FedExForum.

"We lost in the city championship game, but we wanted to come out and prove that we're still the best team in the city," said Davis, who was named a Miss Basketball finalist for the second straight year earlier this week.

"We were just more focused (Friday). We were focused at the city championship, but (Friday) we played more together."

It was all a matter of keeping things simple, said coach Niki Bray.
"We just concentrated on doing the things that we do in practice," she said. "The first quarter was as good as we've played all season. We're a better team when we just focus on simply doing what we do."

And that includes getting the ball to Davis, who scored 13 points in the first quarter as Central built a 26-12 advantage after one and kept the lead at double digits the rest of the game.

Tia Wooten scored 14 of her 19 points in the first half for Central, and Meme Hill finished with 13.
Central will face the fourth-seeded team from District 15-AAA in next week's Region 8 tournament at Houston.

Miyah Barnes scored 18 and Emanye Robertson added 15 for the Lady Spartans, who will face the third-seeded team from 15-AAA at the region tournament.

 
In other games

District 15-AAA girls: Freshman Brandi Beasley scored 12 and Odegua Oigbokie added 11 as top-seeded Ridgeway opened with a 59-28 win over Kirby. ... Monica Brown and Caitlin Hamm each had 12 as Collierville eliminated Germantown, 52-51. ... Houston handled Wooddale, 62-43, behind 21 from Jaida Roper. ... Kelsey Briggs poured in 29 to lead Overton to a 72-45 victory over Southwind.



District 14-AAA girls: Sharrese Morgan scored 15 to lead Craigmont to a 62-35 win over Cordova. ... Bolton outlasted Bartlett, 50-35, behind 18 points from Charity Savage.


District 16-A girls: Renisha Hale scored 20 as Booker T. Washington advanced to the title game with a 64-35 win over Power Center Academy. The Lady Warriors will face Memphis Business Academy, which got 16 points from Marnesha Hamer in a 56-42 win over Soulsville.

Division 2-AA girls: St. Benedict advanced to the state quarterfinals in Nashville with a 49-46 overtime victory over Chattanooga Baylor. Taylor Barnes led a balanced attack with 12 points. Next Friday, the Eagles travel to Brentwood Academy.