Lady Patriots set for semifinal rematch

JACKSONVILLE – Brewer forced 24 turnovers and outrebounded Columbia 40-28 to win 69-39, advancing to its third consecutive Final 48.

The Lady Patriots will face Faith Academy today (Wednesday) at 9 a.m. Those two teams faced off in the Class 5A semifinals in 2012. The winner will advance to the Class 5A championship game Friday at 5 p.m. against the winner of Wenonah vs. Valley, the team Brewer defeated in the finals last year.

Regional tournament MVP Riley Northway led the team again, just missing a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds. She finished 10-for-12 at the foul line.

Savana Flack and Malerie Drinkard added 12 points apiece. Drinkard also pulled down seven rebounds, dished out three assists, blocked two shots and had two steals. Flack had three blocks in the win.

Cheyenne McLemore collected seven points, three rebounds and five steals, followed by Emily Oden with four points. Brook Childers and Sierra Kinser scored three points each.

Caitlin Lavendar and Rheagan Harvel also had two points apiece.

As a team, Brewer blocked seven shots and held Columbia without a 3-pointer in the second half.

Defense was the name of the game in the first half for the Lady Patriots. After falling behind, Brewer took leads of 17-5 at the end of the first quarter and 32-13 at halftime.

While Columbia scored 15 in the third quarter, they weren’t able to slow the Brewer offensive attack, as the Lady Patriots continued to lead 48-28.

Brewer then went on a run in the early part of the fourth quarter to completely seal the win.

Brewer led in just about every category, including points in the paint (32-22), points of turnovers (22-16) and second-chance points (15-5).

In addition to Northway, Flack and Drinkard were both named to the Class 5A Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team.