The UHA girls’ basketball team shook off a slow start to roll over Dawson Springs 55-32 in the 2nd Region All-A semifinals on Thursday night, advancing to Saturday’s title game against Crittenden County. The Lady Rockets were a 52-34 winner over Livingston Central in the second semifinal.
It took three and a half minutes for the Lady Blazers to get on the scoreboard, with Aisha Pantiere hitting 1 of 2 free throws to trail 2-1. Trailing by a bucket with :25 left in the first quarter, Pantiere nailed a 3-pointer to give UHA its first lead at 5-4.
UHA continued to cause the Lady Panthers problems with its full court pressure, holding them to a single basket and a free throw in the second quarter. While the Lady Blazers still weren’t lighting up the scoreboard, Meghan Adams started to get going down low with 4 points to help UHA open up a 16-7 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Blazers blew the game open in the third, opening on a 17-0 run capped by a Pantiere layup off an assist from Lily Hendricks. Adams and Hendricks both scored 6 in the frame to help UHA outscore the Lady Panthers 23-7 and take a commanding 39-14 lead into the fourth.
The final 8 minutes were mostly a formality, with Adams adding 7 more points to finish with a game-high 17. The Lady Panthers turned in their only double-digit quarter, but never threatened.
The Lady Blazers didn’t have a great night at the foul line, shooting 18/34 for 52%, but Dawson Springs did itself no favors with a 7/25 effort for 28%.
Hendricks was the only other Lady Blazer in double figures with 11, followed by 6 each from Pantiere, Anna Moore, and Shiyah Forte.
Brooklyn Clark finished with 11 for Dawson Springs, with Trinity Randolph scoring 6.
