ACCS crushed in South State semifinals

Published 12:01 am Saturday, February 13, 2010

BROOKHAVEN — Tournament time is the most inopportune time for sloppy play, given the level of competition you’re going against.

That proved especially true for the ACCS girls Friday, as Bowling Green pounded them 60-27 in the semifinals of the MAIS Class AA South State tournament.

“I hate it for my kids,” Lady Rebels coach Melanie Hall said. “I thought Bowling Green played very well, and we didn’t. We had a lot of turnovers, and you can’t turn the ball over as many times as we did and expect to win.”

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The loss pits ACCS (22-9) against Prairie View today for a 1 p.m. matchup in the third place game of the tournament. If they win, the Lady Rebels will move on to the State tournament.

“Hopefully we can take something from this game and not have as many turnovers (today), but we praise God in victory and defeat. We’re always thankful for another opportunity to play, and we have that against Prairie View.

“I’m looking for my players to get some good rest and play with fire in their eyes, because I’m not ready to stop yet. Our kids have worked so hard and come so far in two years. I believe in them and believe they’ll do whatever it takes to go out and play strong tomorrow.”

ACCS was down 36-14 at the half, and 45-18 at the end of the third. Taylor Welch finished with seven points for the Lady Rebels, and Rachel Holloway added six.

As to why the Lady Rebels had so much trouble turning the ball over, Hall said she wasn’t sure.

“I wish I knew, because if I could answer that question, I’d probably be a billionaire,” she said.

“Sometimes it happens, and I really don’t know why. I know we wanted it badly, and it wasn’t for a lack of hustle or energy. We fought until the end, but we just weren’t there. Bowling Green played well, but we sure did help them out.”

With this game behind them, the Lady Rebels will now focus on Prairie View, which looks to be a difficult matchup.

“I’m expecting to see a very physical, hard-fought game,” Hall said. “They have a point guard that, if I understood their coach correctly, is already committed to play at the next level. They also have a post player that may be playing at the next level. Still, I feel we match up well person to person, so we’ll see what happens.”