SPRINGFIELD, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville High Lady Wildcats and Henry County Patriots met up at Springfield High School for the region 7-4A championship, with the winner hosting a sectional game on Saturday, and the loser traveling to Bartlett.
A physical, gritty contest had everything you could ask for. From lead changes to controversial calls, and to end it all, Clarksville High senior guard Malon Smith sank two free throws with a second remaining to give the Wildcats a 35-33 win for their third consecutive region championship.
The two teams set the tone for the game right from the start, playing intense defense, diving for any loose ball, and fighting for every rebound. The crowd matched the energy, and an electric atmosphere was born. CHS guard Shakiah Vance racked up eight first-half points, but the Wildcats still trailed at the halftime break, 23-20.
“Henry County is a mirror image of us,” said Clarksville High head coach Brian Rush. “We’re both defensive-heavy teams. It was two great teams going at each other. The 20 years I’ve been here, we’ve harped on defense. Our girls responded to physicality tonight, and it was huge for us to match that intensity.”
The physicality of the game carried into the second half, where both teams struggled offensively. The two teams combined for only 14 points in the third quarter.
Then, it went back and forth down the stretch before Henry County scored with 15 seconds left to tie the ball game. Malon Smith got the ball off the inbound and went the length of the floor before being fouled and sinking two free throws to ice the game and clinch the win for the Wildcats. Smith finished the night with 19 points, despite being double or triple-teamed on most possessions.
“I had a dog mentality tonight,” Smith told Clarksville Now. “We adapted to the situation, and we figured out how this game was going to play, and we love playing that kind of game. It means a lot to get a home sectional game. Knowing that I have another home game with this team that I’ve grown so close with, it warms my heart.”
Now, the Wildcats will face Whitehaven High School on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Clarksville High School. With a win, the Wildcats would be etched in history as the second team in city history to advance to three straight state tournaments. The company? Clarksville High’s historic run with Basharra Graves and company in 2010-12.
“We know the history that’s on the line, but we’re not focused on that,” said Rush. “These girls love each other, and they love being a part of this team, and they don’t want this to end. It’s a matter of playing together and earning one more game with your teammates.”
All Region Team
After the game, the region 7-4A All-Region team was announced, and the championship plaques were handed out as well.
Region 7-4A All-Region Team:
- Region MVP: Malon Smith, Clarksville
- Clarksville High: Malon Smith, Ally Howard, Shakiah Vance
- Henry County: Breely Pierpoint, Na’Kiyah Moore
- Dickson County: Keely Webb
- Rossview High: Ellie Hankemeier
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