Jordan Heifner (13), Carter High School. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Jordan Heifner called it the biggest win of her career.
For Carter’s girls basketball program, it might be the most important victory in school history.
The Lady Hornets advanced to just their second region championship in school history Monday with a 54-44 upset of Northview Academy in the 2-AA semifinal elimination round at Fulton.
Carter (21-10) will take on Gatlinburg-Pittman (21-10) Wednesday at Fulton in the Region 2-AA title game.
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Both teams also qualify for Saturday sectional play regardless of the outcome Wednesday.
Sectional winners advance to the state tournament.
Carter’s only other appearance in a region championship game was in 2001.
“This is a very big win,” said Heifner, who was one of three Carter girls to score 15 points against the Lady Cougars (28-4).
The win is the continuation of a major turnaround under coach Bo Lewis.
Lewis, in his fifth season as Carter coach, is 87-55. The Lady Hornets were 40-91 in the previous five year’s before Lewis took over.
“We’ve just tried to create a culture of the players holding one another accountable and the coaching staff holding one another accountable,” said Lewis.
Defense was the difference against Northview.
Carter’s Evie DePetro checked Lady Cougars standout Campbell Penland most of the game.
DePetro limited Penland to 6-of-18 shooting and 16 points.
“Evie did a super job filling her role tonight,” said Lewis.
“She played smart all night against Campbell.”
Carter held Northview to 28-percent shooting (16 of 57) from the field.
“Our defense was the key,” said Heifner, who also rose to the occasion according to Lewis.
“She’s a four-year starter who has been in some big moments,” he said.
“This is one of the better games of her career overall from the basketball IQ part.”
DePetro and Sydney Hurst also scored 15 points apiece for Carter.
Sierra Bates and Lexi Bates scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Northview.
Lewis said the Lady Hornets still have much work to do.
“We’ll celebrate the moment, but we’ve got to refocus and get ready for Wednesday’s championship game,” he said.
“We really want that home game in the sectional.”
Gatlinburg-Pittman 55, Alcoa 45
The Lady Highlanders eliminated Alcoa (21-9) in the region semifinals for the second year in a row to advance to the championship game against Carter.
Alcoa also lost to G-P in the 2018 region finals when both teams reached the state tournament.
Senior forward Ivy Bales scored 16 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had three blocks to pace G-P.
“The fact that we’ve been in this position (beaten Alcoa) before helped us and played to our advantage,” said Bales.
Shelby Moore scored 14 points and turned in a superlative defensive performance against Alcoa standout Destiny Haworth.
Moore shadowed Haworth throughout and held her scoreless on 0-for-11 shooting.
“We know that Destiny is their go-to player,” said G-P coach Katie Moore.
“She just couldn’t get away from Shelby, who did a nice job stepping up.”
With Moore leading the way, G-P held Alcoa to 24 percent (15 of 63) shooting.
“We’re incredibly proud of Shelby,” said Bales.
“One of Shelby’s goals was to play lockdown defense. Defense was one of the key factors to winning tonight.”
Sydney McCarty added 13 points and Taylor Reed had eight rebounds for the Lady Highlanders.
Moore said it was a complete team victory.
“Ivy gave us some great minutes, Taylor Reed was one of our sleepers who stepped up and my point guard, Sydney McCarty, did a good job frustrating No. 22 (Alcoa guard Karli Haworth).”
Karli Haworth topped Alcoa in scoring with 18 points. McKenzie Wilburn had 13 points and Mak Bremmer 10.
G-P jumped to an 11-0 lead and the Lady Highlanders never trailed.
Alcoa got as close as 23-22 early in the third quarter before G-P went on a 7-0 run to pull away for good.