Heritage's girls had about a nine-minute stretch over the middle quarters in their Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament opener in which they outplayed Meigs County. But the Lady Tigers showed what they're capable of doing when they closed out a 52-32 victory at Chattanooga State.
Meigs County (10-4) takes on GPS in a semifinal tonight at 7. Heritage (5-6) plays Chattanooga Christian in a consolation-bracket game at 1.
The Lady Tigers led 19-6 early in the second quarter, but Heritage began asserting itself at that point. By the time Sydney Smith made the first of two free throws with 3:40 to go in the third quarter, the Generals were within 27-23.
"They got after us and turned up the juice on us," Meigs County coach Jason Powell said. "We went to a 3-2 zone, and I think that kind of slowed them down a bit. We're normally a straight man-to-man team.
"They got up in us. That's why you go to tournaments is to see teams you don't normally see that will help you down the road. We don't see a lot of teams that get up in you like that. I thought they played very inspired."
But the Generals went cold from the field in the remaining time. Their last field goal came on a putback by Smith with 7:35 to play, although they did make four of four free throws in the last 2:33.
"We're having trouble scoring this year," Heritage coach Eddie Bryant said. "Even the players we depend on for scoring are struggling.
"When you're having trouble scoring, every other facet of your game has to be perfect."
Taylor Boggess led the Lady Tigers with 22 points and in large part was responsible for Heritage's Jada Hubbard being held to three. Alex Dawson added 14 points for Meigs, and Kelsey Woods contributed 12.
Tori Harvey's 10 points led the Generals.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.