Panthers take up half of tourney final spots

Martin has a chance for two championships.
The Panther middle school basketball teams punched their tickets to the finals of the Area 5 Tournament on Wednesday night at South Fulton as the Martin girls defeated the host Red Devilettes 37-23 and then the Martin boys held off Ridgemont 49-39.
The championship games will be played tonight at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Martin will play Paris Inman, a 35-18 winner over Lake Road, in the girls’ title game, while the Panther boys will face SF in the nightcap.
Martin 37, SF 23 (G)
Tasia Jones scored nine of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter, hitting 7-of-9 free throws, to pace the Lady Panthers.
Martin led 12-8 after one period and 18-15 at the half and then pitched a shutout in the third frame to grab a 24-15 advantage.
Jordyn Greene added 10 points, and Lydia Pritchett pitched in eight points for Martin.
Diamond Smith had 13 points, seven in the fourth period, for South Fulton.
Martin 49, R’mont 39 (B)
The Panthers grabbed a big lead in the first half and then had to hold on as Ridgemont put together a strong comeback in the third period.
Martin jumped on the Mustangs in the first two periods, ahead 16-2 after one and 30-8 at the half. But, Ridgemont outscored the Panthers 15-3 in the third to pull within 33-23.
Ty Kelly scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, hitting a pair of free throws in four chances, while Cameron Jones hit 3-of-4 at the line in the fourth for Martin.
Tyler Hopper got Martin off to a fast start, scoring eight of his 11 points in the first frame, while Matt McMillan added 10 points. He hit two 3-pointers and scored seven points in the second quarter.

Published in The WCP 1.31.13

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