Lady Bears Set For Finals At Reeds Spring

The Ava Lady Bears will play for the championship of the Reeds Spring Tournament this Friday night, with a repeat encounter with the Lady Zizzers of West Plains.

A year ago West Plains defeated the Lady Bears 45-28 to win the title. However, earlier this season (Jan. 2) Ava defeated the Zizzers in West Plains, 33-32, on a buzzer-beater by Jorie Garrett.

Ava advanced to the championship game by defeating Forsyth on Monday night, 69-43.

Payton Lakey led the Lady Bears with 18 points and Garrett added 15. Both Lakey and Garrett had double-doubles, with 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

Five Ava players scored in double figures, with Abbie Lansdown knocking down 15 points, Bethany Horn 11, and Emily Sterling 10.

Caryli Ingles had 15 points for Forsyth.

In semifinals action on Tuesday night, the Lady Bears slipped by Blue Eye, 40-39 in overtime.

Emily Sterling knocked down four straight free throws to preserve Ava’s win and finished the night with 10 points.

Lakey led the Lady Bears with 14 points.

Looking ahead to next week, the Lady Bears will have Mtn. Grove at home Monday night, Jan. 30, and Willow Springs here on Thursday, Feb. 2. Both are conference games.