Slow starts have plagued Heritage Christian Academy all season, but the Lady Warriors usually responded over the final three quarters to pick up a win.
There was no such slow start in their KCAA State semifinal game with Oak Ridge Saturday. Rachel West drilled a 3-pointer seconds after the opening tip, and the Lady Warriors never trailed in picking up the 43-28 win. The victory moves HCA into the KCAA championship game for the first time in school history.
West hit a trio of 3-pointers in the first quarter, but it was a team effort in helping HCA get a 15-7 lead. The Lady Warriors got seven points in the first half from Abbi Bullock and six rebounds from Meredith Crunk in building a 29-13 lead at halftime.
Heritage kept a 12-point lead after three quarters, but play got a little sluggish at the start of the fourth quarter as Oak Ridge cut the deficit to 36-27 with 5:25 left.
The Lady Warriors responded with a 7-0 run, keyed by a put back basket by Hope Flournoy and a Chelsea Dortch layup.
Flournoy finished with eight points and five blocked shots, while Dortch added seven points. West led the scoring with 19 points, and Bullock scored seven.
Oak Ridge, who suffered their fourth loss to HCA this season, was led by Gracie Clark’s 13 points.
Heritage Christian Academy (23-9) will play Trinity Christian of Lexington in the championship game at 4pm Saturday. Trinity beat Glasgow Christian 44-32 in the other semifinal. HCA beat Trinity twice in a pair of holiday tournaments in November and December.
