Bravettes, Rams reach Scott-Mississippi final

Scott County Central and Delta's girls basketball teams will likely meet four times this season.

With a 43-40 win by the Bravettes (10-2) on Thursday in the semifinals of the Scott-Mississippi Conference Tournament at Delta, the teams are all squared at one game apiece.

Scott County, the third seed, will face No. 1 Kelly in the finals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Kelly knocked off No. 4 Scott City 56-37 in the other semifinal.

Second-seeded Delta defeated Scott County in the semifinals of the Lady Red Devils Invitational Tournament on Dec. 9. Delta will host Scott County on Feb. 24 in the season finale for both teams, and a meeting in the sectional round of the state playoffs is likely.

Scott County coach Semona Penrod said Thursday's win was a big one for her squad.

"We came out and played with a lot of intensity," she said.

The game was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than four points. There were 10 lead changes in the game and six ties. Scott County took the lead for good on a Brittany Godwin jumper -- her only basket of the game -- with less than two minutes remaining, .

Delta had an opportunity to take the lead with under a minute left, but after getting a steal the Bobcats immediately turned the ball back over. Janet Penrod then made two free throws with 14 seconds left to put Scott County up three, and a long 3-pointer from Kaci Menz was off the mark in the final seconds.

Brittney Peet led all scorers with 20 points.

"When she comes to play, she can be phenomenal," Semona Penrod said of Peet.

Rachel Ware led Delta with 15 points, and Menz added 12.

"We're inconsistent," Delta coach Randy White said of his team's performance. "We have a decent ball club, but we're inconsistent."

In the other semifinal game, Kelly led throughout. Kelly Essner led the Hawks with 13 points, Stephanie Hency had 12, and Leigh Ann Buchheit had 10.

Kelly Hicks led Scott City with 13 points, and Christy Laxton scored 10.

Scott County Central 43, Delta 40

SCC 9 14 10 10 -- 40

Delta 12 13 10 5 -- 43

SCOTT COUNTY (43) -- Brittney Peet 20, Nyketia Johnson 8, Janet Penrod 6, Jessica McCray 4, Amanda Lawless 3, Brittany Godwin 2. FG 19, FT 5-10, F 17 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

Delta (40) -- Rachel Ware 15, Kaci Menz 12, Sarah Cook 9, Ashley Deprow 4. FG 11, FT 15-23, F 15 (3-pointers: Menz 2, Cook 1. Fouled out: none)

Kelly 56, Scott City 37

Scott City 11 14 7 5 -- 37

Kelly 14 22 11 9 -- 56

SCOTT CITY (37) -- Alisha Obermann 1, Valerie Gibbons 2, Angie Laxton 2, Christy Laxton 10, Jessica Warren 5, Nora Glasser 4, Kelly Hicks 13. FG 14, FT 7-10, F 12 (3-pointers: Hicks 2. Fouled out: none)

KELLY (56) -- Jessica Burnett 4, Brittany Ponder 6, Kelly Essner 13, Leigh Ann Buchheit 10, Mindy Robert 8, Stephanie Hency 12, Summer Procter 1. FG 21, FT 9-15, F 11 (3-pointers: Essner 2, Buchheit 2, Hency 1. Fouled out: none)