Staff Photo by Jenna Walker/Chattanooga Times Free Press - {iptcmonthname3} 16, 2011 - Dalton's Chandler McKinney struggles with Gilmer's Caitlin Woody for possession of the ball during the Dalton vs. Gilmer tournament basketball game at Dalton High School in Dalton, Ga. The Lady Catamounts played a strong first half against the Lady Cats.DALTON, Ga.-Through three quarters of Wednesday night's Region 7-AAA girls' quarterfinal game against Pickens County, Ringgold was on the brink of being blown out several times. Unfortunately for the Lady Tigers, it took them getting within a basket to finally trigger the killing blow they had avoided all game.
A 17-3 run to close the game propelled the 16-8 Dragonettes to a 47-31 win and a berth into Friday's semifinals and into next week's state tournament. They will join Allatoona, a 59-39 winner over LaFayette, Cartersville, which defeated Southeast Whitfield, 68-50, and top-seeded Dalton, which had little trouble with Gilmer County, winning 60-25.
The semis will pit Cartersville against Allatoona and Dalton vs. Pickens.
Ringgold (16-9) coach Kristee Griffin knew her team was fortunate to be still in the hunt as the final period began. Horrid shooting and poor rebounding (a 20-9 first-half Pickens advantage) dogged the Lady Tigers early, but a harassing defense that caused 23 turnovers kept them in the game.
"We can play defense all night long and stay tough, but what hurts us is our offensive game," the first-year coach said. "We've struggled putting the ball in the hole all year. We would probably lose to a lot of teams by a lot more if we didn't have our defense."
Down 28-18 entering the final period, Ringgold reserve Adrian Thornton came to life. Her steal (Thornton's sixth of the game), layup and free throw 30 seconds into the period began a 8-2 Ringgold run over three minutes that cut the lead to two. Thornton's 3-pointer, the team's only trey of the game, ended the run and had the Ringgold fans on their feet.
Pickens, however, never flinched. Danielle Gross' layup off a nicely run halfcourt set quieted the crowd and Kayla Bernard's 3-pointer-her only points of the game-on the next possession suddenly swelled the lead back to seven. Though Ringgold would have several good looks down the stretch, nothing would fall as the Dragonettes stretched their lead.
"Mental mistakes cost us," Griffin said. "We got within two, then turned the ball over. We don't adjust and they hit a 3-pointer on us and we're down again by seven. Those mistakes, plus not being able to shoot the ball, were too much to overcome.
"I'm proud of them; they fought hard all season. Most people said we wouldn't win a game, but we ended with a winning record and hopefully we can take that and keep building."
Thornton, who tied Britney Goldsmith for team scoring honors with eight, added five rebounds to her six steals. Jasmine Gross topped Pickens with 12 points, with Kadie Mullinax adding 10.
"It took a lot to get us back in it, but they hit that three and we never recovered," Thornton said. "But we never quit fighting. We learned this year to always play hard and never give up and we can take that into next season."