WEED – The Etna Lady Lions, ranked third in NSCIF Division-V, survived a close, hard fought battle with the Weed Lady Cougars for the second time in Shasta Cascade League play. Weed took Etna to overtime on the Lady Lions’ home court earlier in the season, and came close to knocking off the defending SCL champs on Friday night in Weed.

It was a 2-point game,with Etna leading 15-13, at the end of the first quarter. Weed’s Sierra Skeen hit a 3-ball just before the end of the quarter.

The Lady Cougars knotted the score at 17-17 in the second quarter on a freebie by Skeen. Then, Nicolette Neel gave Weed the lead, 19-17, with a hoop at the 4:23 mark. After Tandy Thackeray tied it at 19-19, with two from the charity stripe, Neel nailed a trey to put Weed up 22-19.

Two free throws by Paige Finley cut the gap to one point, 22-21, and started a 10-0 Etna run to end the half. Thackeray connected from downtown to put Etna back in front, 24-22, with 2:15 in the half. An Ilima Adams put back made it 26-22. Two throws from Annaleisa Nadig extended the Etna lead to six points, 28-22. With 25 seconds left until intermission, Emily Loogman came up with a steal and passed to Finley for a layup to close out the first half scoring, with Etna up 30-22.

Amanda Greene, who left the game in the first half with an injury, returned in the second half and had an immediate impact with her strong play in the paint. Greene scored to make it 30-24. After Finley put back a rebound, Kera Vogel dished to Greene for a hoop, 32-26. Skeen made it 32-28, with a sweet up and under move. The third quarter ended with Etna still on top, 39-33.

About two minutes into the final frame, Etna led 41-35, when Neel dropped one in from behind the arc, making the score 41-38. A few minutes later, Etna pushed its lead up to seven points, 49-42, on a put back by Trina Appler. But, Weed answered with scores by Vogel and Skeen to make it a one possession game, 49-46, with 1:20 left to play.

Thackeray made it 52-46 on a 3-pointer with 15 seconds to go. Skeen quickly answered for Weed with a trey of her own, cutting the deficit to three pints, 52-49, with :06 on the clock. The Lady Cougars were forced to foul in an attempt to get the ball back. Thackeray made both of her free throws for Etna, sealing the 54-49 win.

Tandy Thackeray led all scorers with 23 points. She hit three 3-balls and had 6 boards. Annaleisa Nadig put up 10 points for Etna, grabbed 10 rebounds and had 6 steals and 5 blocks. Paige Finley had 8 points.

Sierra Skeen was high point for Weed with 19, including four 3-pointers, dished out 3 assists, and pulled down 3 rebounds. Nicolette Neel had 15 points, 3 steals, and 5 assists. Amanda Greene dropped in 8 points.

Etna (16-6, 7-2) hosts Fall River (13-5, 8-1) on Tuesday, February 9 in a game that will likely decide the SCL championship.

Weed (4-14, 3-6) is fighting for its playoff life. With no chance to make the SCL required .500 mark in overall record or division record, the Lady Cougars would have to win out in SCL play to go 6-6 and qualify for the playoffs, assuming they are ranked in the top 16 D-V teams.

Weed has games remaining against Modoc (0-16, 0-8), at Burney (7-9, 4-4), and against Mt. Shasta (11-9, 6-2). The Lady Cougars have already beaten Burney and Modoc, and played tough against Mt. Shasta for the first half of their first meeting.