CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The number one-seeded Clarksville High Wildcats and the number four-seeded Northeast High Eagles met up on Thursday night for the district 13-4A tournament semifinals. The Wildcats used physical defense and timely scoring to lead from start to finish, earning their place in the district title game with a 55-20 victory.
The Lady Eagles defended well in the first quarter, trailing by only 8 points after 8 minutes. However, a 22-point second quarter for the Wildcats, led by eight points from guard Shakia Vance, very quickly put the game nearly out of reach, as Northeast trailed by 23 at the half.
“I knew it was going to be tough coming into this, but I told the girls I just wanted to work on us no matter what,” said Eagles head coach Tracie Mason-Blair. “With only six players, I was proud of their effort, and I think we got better as a squad tonight.”
The Wildcats pulled away in the second half, securing a win and the season sweep of the Eagles, winning all three of their matchups. The Eagles’ season stays alive though, as they head to the third-place game against Kirkwood.
As for the Wildcats, they are on to the district title game. They’ll see their biggest rival across Warfield Boulevard, the Rossview High Hawks, this upcoming Monday, which has become a familiar matchup in the district title game. The Wildcats are seeking their fifth consecutive district title.
“Anytime you win in the postseason, it’s a good thing,” said Wildcats head coach Ellie Claus. “We played a lot of girls that may not have seen a lot of action this year, and they executed well. We could have done a better job with the little things, especially just making our layups, but now our focus shifts to Monday.”
| SPORTS REPORT: Sign up for the new weekly Clarksville sports newsletter