Creek Valley Edges Leyton, Advances in D2-12

Final round participants in the D2-12 girl's basketball tournament were set Tuesday night with Creek Valley's victory over Leyton at the Sidney Middle School gym.

The Lady Storm entered the contest as the second seed and were paired against the third seeded Lady Warriors in what proved to be a close game from start to finish. Creek Valley rode a five game winning streak coming into the contest, and had previously beaten the Lady Warriors in Dalton earlier in the season.

The first period started with Creek Valley scoring quickly while Leyton was able to capitalize on scoring opportunities late in the period to end the first stanza tied at 11. The second period had the Lady Storm pulling away from the Lady Warriors, who were unable to score in the opening minutes of the period, until the final moments of the period when Leyton was able to put together a few effective offensive sets to close the half down by only five, 24-19.

The second half started with a third quarter that was the mirror opposite of the second; the Lady Warriors put up 13 points to the Lady Storms eight, ending the period tied at 32. The fourth period was close struggle, with both teams playing aggressive defense and scoring opportunities limited for both sides.

Both teams battled, and the Lady Warriors took the lead with a three point play by sophomore Madelyn Watchhorn. But the Lady Storm regrouped, and got the ball into the hands of the player that had been their leader all season, senior Payje Misegadis.

Misegadis scored eight points in the final period, including four straight free throws that put the Lady Storm ahead in the final moments of the game. A last-second shot by Leyton's Madelyn Watchorn bounced off the rim, and Creek Valley secured the 41-39 victory to advance them to the finals against number one seed Potter-Dix.

Leyton's Madelyn Watchorn led all scorers with 14 points for the Lady Warriors.