CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – There appeared to be no love lost between Rossview girls basketball and rival Clarksville Tuesday, as tempers flared and bodies hit the floor throughout.
By the end of the night, it was the Lady Hawks who made it out the least unscathed, pulling out a hard-fought 58-47 win to make it back to the District 10-AAA finals for the eighth straight year.
Rossview girls basketball coach Justin Woods thought the physicality that was exuded was simply a byproduct of both teams playing hard.
“That’s how this rivalry is,” Woods said. “I feel like we’ve played them in the semifinals forever. We talked about that and had to be ready for it. You’re not going to get the calls you got in the regular season. You have to be strong, physical and grab rebounds with two hands. You have to be tough and I think our girls really responded.”
Clarksville girls basketball coach Brian Rush discussed what he believed ultimately led to his team’s loss.
“I think they hit shots at the right time,” Rush said. “When they got the lead and extended it, we would close it. I think there were so many times in the game where we just needed one more stop and we couldn’t get it. To their credit, they made that play right when they were bending and just weren’t breaking.”
Key plays
The Hawks’ tenacious defense turned the game around after they fell behind 6-0 to start the contest.
“I thought Torri James’s energy off the bench really kind of sparked that,” Woods said. “She was all over the place grabbing rebounds and getting her hand on the ball. I thought she made a huge impact when she got in the game. That allowed us to get some transition buckets and I think that’s been the key for us lately. When we turn defense into offense, it really gets us going and gets the bench hyped up.”
Lady Hawk junior Sydney-James Desroches had success from both inside and out offensively. Woods believes the talented forward is more than capable of having similar performances on a nightly basis.
“Understanding when to do both,” Woods said of what Desroches has improved on the most. “She’s had the skill to do both. I think before, she had the ball in her hands all the time so she could do whatever she wanted. Now she’s got teammates around her that can help. She’s learning to play well inside the team concept and to dominate really inside what we do in our system.”
2nd QTR- 1:02@SydJam22 hits nothing but net to make it 29-20 @RossviewHoops. pic.twitter.com/MFxvxLYg7W
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) February 24, 2021
With just under five minutes left to play in regulation, Chelsea Williams connected from long range to build the Lady Hawk lead back to double digits. The made shot seemingly took all the air out of a potential Clarksville comeback.
“That was big, but she’s made those all year,” Woods said. “She’s a senior and this was her final game at CHS. I’m happy for her.”
Lady Wildcat guard Imari Berry knocked down a three-pointer before grabbing her right leg late in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one possession at the time.
3rd QTR- 1:16@BerryImari buries it from deep to cut the @RossviewHoops lead to three points. pic.twitter.com/51P5Ycxla8
— Neil Rye (@NryeTBB) February 24, 2021
With the talented freshman being forced to exit the game briefly, Rossview was able to rebuild a comfortable lead.
Rush isn’t too concerned with Berry’s availability moving forward.
“Their cramps,” Rush said of the injury. “We were hoping she could work through it and they just kept coming back. She’s going to have to get hydrated tonight and be ready tomorrow. Those are usually just a one day thing.”
Desroches finished with a game-high 17 points while Williams poured in 15 points and Emani Collier added 12 points for the Lady Hawks.
Erin Lackey led the Lady Wildcats with 12 points while Berry also finished in double figures with 10 points.
What’s next
Clarksville now turns its attention to a home consolation game against Henry County Wednesday, Feb. 24 before the region tournament gets underway. Rush is hopeful that his team remains focused on the task at hand.
“2017 was our last run to state,” Rush said. “We didn’t win the district. We came in third. We lost the same game here, but were able to put together a run and ended up winning the region title and then winning sectionals to go into state. Yeah we’ve lost our opportunity to be the district champions, but our season isn’t over yet.”
With the win, Rossview makes it way back to the District 10-AAA title game. The Lady Hawks will play their third game in as many days when they take on No. 1-seeded Northwest Wednesday, Feb. 24 on the road.
“It’s just that we’re a team,” Woods said on the message to the locker room. “We have depth and have played nine all year. I think that’s going to pay off for us. They believe in each other because they know the next man who comes in is going to take care of business. We don’t have any reservations about going to the bench and I think over time that helps you.”