State Fair rallies past Lady Raiders

By ALEX ABATE ~ DAR Sports Writer

State Fair turned the tables Saturday night on the Three Rivers Lady Raiders at the Bess Activity Center.

The Lady Roadrunners beat the Lady Raiders on their home floor, 74-71, after Three Rivers did the same thing at State Fair earlier this season.

"We had a hard-fought ballgame up there and were fortunate to win," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "Just like we a hard-fought game here and (State Fair) probably thinks it is fortunate to win.

"When you go in and steal one on their home court, you

they are ready come back down and play a little bit."

The Lady Raiders (17-6, 5-2 XVI) have now lost two straight region games after winning three straight.

"We have to get a little more focused and shoot a little bit more," Walk said. "We are below our season average so we need to shoot a little more to get that back up to where it needs to be."

Sara Woodgeard was the leading scorer for Three Rivers as she had 19 points. Morgan Davis and Fareedah Washington each added 14 in the loss.

The Lady Roadrunners came through late as they took the lead for good with 3:23 left in the contest at 65-64. The Lady Raiders offense struggled as it made just two field goals with less than 2 minutes left, both coming on uncontested layups after State Fair had a two-possession lead.

"Either we are not quite in shape again, a lot of little things go into consideration," Walk said. "Maybe they were guarding us pretty good. You can't take that factor out either."

State Fair was down 12 at halftime but quickly cut into the Lady Raiders lead. State Fair made a 3-pointer and Antonia Jones added a quick hoop to put to within 38-31

. Tatiana Walker made it a fourpoint game with a 3 at the 16:45 mark. After a free throw from Three Rivers, State Fair scored three more points to cut the Lady Raiders lead to 40-37 with 15:27 left.

After Three Rivers extended its lead, State Fair scored seven straight to get within 51-49 with 9:34 left before the game was close down the stretch.

"Late in the first half, we pulled away but then in the second half, we came out with no intensity," Walk said. "It gave them a little momentum and carried them through."

The Lady Raiders pulled away late in the first half after leading by two with 6:05 left in the half, but two free throws each from Woodgeard and Washington gave the Lady Raiders a 27-21 edge.

After a 3-pointer from State Fair's Jordin Coleman, the Lady Raiders closed the half on a 15-2 run. Meridith Medlin made six straight free throws and Washington scored with 2:56 left in the half to make it 35-24. An old-fashioned 3-point play from Woodgeard gave Three Rivers a 38-26 lead at the break.

Davis started the game for Three Rivers with a basket and after State Fair countered with a hoop of its own, Three Rivers scored five straight to take a 7-2 lead.

After State Fair rattled off seven straight to take a 9-7 lead, the Lady Raiders tied the game and took the lead on a basket by Woodgeard after an offensive rebound with 12:18 left in the half. Baskets by both teams kept the score close for much of the half until the Lady Raiders extended their lead as the break neared.

Notes: State Fair had 24 points off turnovers while Three Rivers had just 19. ... State Fair held the rebounding advantage in the game, 43-40. ... State Fair got 23 bench points while the Lady Raiders got six. ... Both teams had 20 turnovers.