CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Despite trailing for the first three quarters Friday on the road, Rossview girls basketball rode the wave of a 11-0 run in the final quarter to come from behind and defeat Clarksville 43-32.
There was no shortage on physicality early on in the contest, as tie-ups and jump balls were aplenty. The referees allowed both teams to play throughout in one of the biggest rivalries in the city.
Rossview girls basketball coach Justin Woods discussed the game’s slow start out of the gates.
“They were packing it in running zone,” Woods said. “Our strength is kind of inside and obviously they know that. I thought we played tight and weren’t moving the ball as crisply as we should. It took us awhile to really get our feet under us and get going. We’re physical and they’re physical. A lot of times this game turns out this way. It’s a grinder.”
Kate Howard’s five first-half points helped propel Clarksville to a 15-11 lead at the break.
A pair of made three pointers by Kristin Edwards in the third quarter cut the Lady Wildcat lead to 27-24, entering the fourth quarter.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, Rossview’s Chelsea Williams knocked down a three-pointer to break a 27-27 tie. Ever Walker then followed up with a steal and layup, as the Lady Hawks built a 5-0 run. It was a meaningful sequence that seemed to give Rossview the confidence it needed to take control of the game.
“Yeah it did,” Woods said of the spurt. “In this game, the crowd plays such a huge factor. We were able to get a few stops in a row and make a couple shots in a row. It got ourselves going as well as the crowd going and things started rolling downhill.”
Full-court pressure by the Lady Hawks gave Clarksville fits down the stretch. Rossview was able to generate transition offense off of turnovers to help seal the win.
Woods loved the energy level he saw from his defense during the final minutes of the contest.
“I thought that was a huge turning point in the game,” Woods said. “I thought they made some shots I haven’t seen them make a lot, but that’s kind of how this game goes too so you kind of expect that. Once we got the game going at our tempo, we took it over.”
Rossview (5-2, 2-0) heads to Northeast to take on the Lady Eagles, Tuesday Dec. 10.
Clarksville (2-5, 1-2) travels to play Springfield, Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Lady Hawks’ Top Scorers
Ever Walker – 13
Kristin Edwards – 12
Chelsea Williams – 9
Kayla Gilmore – 6
Lady Wildcats’ Top Scorers
Kate Howard – 8
Sydney Weatherford – 6
Nariah Nicholson – 6
Alexis Wimberly – 6