Lady Bulldogs take first at Seymour Friday, defeat Norwood in conference game Monday

The Gainesville Lady Bulldogs basketball team took first place in the Seymour Tournament last week after wins over Rogersville’s JV, Seymour and state-ranked Walnut Grove.
The Bulldogs defeated the Rogersville JV team 61-30 to kick off the tournament on Monday, Feb. 6. Annie Noah and Michia Jenkins led the way with 20 points each. Shai Meek added 7, followed by Shelby Smith with 6. Destiny Scott chipped in 4, while Cassie Carlo added 3 and Aspyn Britt, 1.
The team faced host Seymour in the second round Thursday, Feb. 9, and sailed by the Lady Tigers, 65-35. GHS senior Michia Jenkins scored a game-high 27 points, putting her over 1,000 points for her high school career. Noah added 15 pooints while Smith and Meek scored 6 each. Scott added 5, and Britt and Chasity Mansker had 3 each.
Noah led in rebounds with 10. Britt led in assists with 9 and steals with 4.
The win put the Bulldogs in the championship bracket, pitting them against a very good Walnut Grove team, but Gainesville worked hard and smart to win 45-35.
“This was a good effort against a very good team,” said GHS coach Morris Jenkins.  “Walnut Grove played really good position defense and made it tough for us to get good shots consistently.  Our girls did a good job of staying poised and made some key shots in the second half to put us in position to win.  However, our ability to play defense and keep Walnut Grove from getting into an offensive flow was probably the key.”
Noah led the scoring with 14 points, followed by Aspyn Britt with 10 and Destiny Scott with 9. Michia Jenkins chipped in 4, and Shelby Smith added 2.
Monday night, the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Norwood to take on the Lady Pirates, which is always an exciting night of basketball. Fans weren’t disappointed in this nail-biter of a game, with the teams trading the lead back and forth until the Bulldogs inched ahead, 33-31, with just two minutes left on the clock. Norwood never regained the lead, and Gainesville won 41-35.
Noah led the way to the win with 15 points, followed by Jenkins with 13. Smith added 6, followed by Britt with 5 and Meek with 2.
The Lady Bulldogs’ final game of the regular season will see them taking on the  Conway Lady Bears in conference play Thursday.
It’s a home game and senior night for Lady Bulldogs Destiny Scott and Michia Jenkins. Michia will also be recognized for her 1,000 high school career points.
In addition, the game is the team’s annual Pink Out night for the Lady Bulldogs, who have their own Relay For Life team to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
District play begins Saturday at Sparta High School with Gainesville playing Sparta at 1 p.m.  Seeding for the tournament is as follows:
1. Gainesville (24-1)
2. Norwood (21-3)
3. Hartville (16-9)
4. Plato (13-11)
5. Mansfield (11-8)
6. Fordland (13-11)
7. Seymour (7-17)
8. Sparta (7-17)
A win over Sparta will put the Lady Bulldogs into the quarter-final contest with the winner of the Plato vs. Mansfield game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

<p>Gainesville’s Lady Bulldogs brought home their fourth consecutive Seymour Tournament championship after defeating Walnut Grove Friday, Feb. 11. Team members are, from left, (front) Shelby Smith, Aspyn Britt; (kneeling) Patience Naegele, Brexton Miller (standing) Shai Meek, Chasity Mansker, Natalie Kiger, Cassie Carol, Michia Jenkins, Destiny Scott and Annie Noah.</p>