Meigs County junior guard Jacelyn Stone knows the challenges she faces on the basketball court.
At the same time she has used her height disadvantage to learn how to be the flashiest player on any given night.
Fooling defenders with head fakes and doing Houdini-like work on the hardwood, the 5-foot-1 Stone led the Lady Tigers to their fourth straight Region 3-AA championship berth with a 56-48 win over Signal Mountain at East Ridge High School on Monday night.
"These games are exhilarating," said Stone, who scored 21 points to help her team to improve to 23-9. "I have to do all those moves on the court because I am so much smaller than everyone else. Every time I step on the court I have to prove myself out there. I work on my craft all the time and am always learning new moves."
In the other 3-AA semifinal, Red Bank locked in for its 15th consecutive victory and the other spot in Wednesday's 7 p.m. region final. Monday's wins also guaranteed sectional appearances.
With stellar defense late from Ashley Ware and Arteya Scott to go with the big finishes inside from seniors Bailey Lee and Shannon Ledford, the Lady Lions won 56-45 over McMinn Central.
"Our girls wanted to make history and they have," said coach Bailey McGinnis, whose Red Bank team is 28-5. "We haven't won this game in over 20 years. To get two more games as a team is everything. Everyone has come together and stepped up their game. Every girl on the floor helped seal the deal for us."
Both victors had to weather the storm in the second half, as Signal Mountain (25-6) and McMinn Central (16-10) both cut down lopsided deficits to tight margins in the fourth quarter.
Running the court with intensity and focus, Signal junior guard Jaylah Hardy scored 17 second-half points (21 total) as she finished frequently with finesse and power in the paint. Hardy's steal and three-point play gave the Lady Eagles a 42-39 lead with 6:21 remaining.
Coach Kendra Bell's team fought back from 13 first-half turnovers but could not score again after Hardy's handoff to Olivia Koontz for a basket cut Signal's deficit to 50-48 with 2:16 to go.
Jaci Powell hit four straight free throws for Meigs County in crunch time, while Ella Crowder and Ansley Wade hit key field goals in the victory.
Helping Red Bank close out another big win was its senior post sensation.
Including making two fourth-quarter putbacks through fouls, the 6-2 Lee contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds.
"When Bailey can dominate in the post, that makes us all get up and really believe we can finish what we set out to do," said Lady Lions junior Raijeria Bell, who had averaged 24 points in her last three games. "This season has been magical. We couldn't have done what we have without our coaches. They are the backbone of all of this."
With a 46-41 lead, Ware - considered her team's best defender by McGinnis - forced a deflection and steal that sparked a runaway 6-0 run with just under a minute left.
McMinn Central's Kellan Baker scored 18 points and made four 3-pointers.
Red Bank's Scott stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, eight rebounds, four steals and four assists.
With a shot at a region title and a chance to host a sectional, neither the Lady Lions nor the Lady Tigers will need any more motivation.
"To win a region championship would mean a lot," Meigs County's Stone said. "We haven't won one in quite a while. I absolutely love this team and competing with these girls."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.