Huntingdon Middle School Fillies Win Second Straight State Title

MURFREESBORO (February 5) — The Huntingdon Middle School Fillies polished off a 19-1 season with their second consecutive state championship at the James C. Haile State Tournament with a 36-31 overtime win over Columbia Academy Thursday on the campus of Middle Tennessee Christian School.

It was a see-saw affair for the Fillies against the talented Lady Bulldogs of Columbia Academy as both teams fought from behind in hopes of winning the game and the state title.

The Fillies led 30-27 with 4.2 seconds left in the game before a Cameron Church three-pointer at the final buzzer sent the game into overtime for an extra three minutes to determine the state championship.

The Lady Bulldogs took the lead in the extra session on a foul shot by Evelyn Johnson to lead 31-30, but two made foul shots by Lakeitha Cason gave the Fillies a 32-31 lead and the Fillies then grabbed a rebound and began to play keep away. That led to June Dillahunty making four consecutive foul shots to seal the 36-31 win for the Fillies and capture their second state championship in two years.

The Fillies got off to a slow start for the game as the Lady Bulldogs scored the first seven points of the game to lead 7-0, but the Fillies bounced back to cut the lead to 9-7 after one quarter of play.

The Fillies played better in the second quarter but missed several shots and turned the ball over a few times. Still, they were in shouting distance at the half, trailing 18-15.

The Fillies made some adjustments in the third quarter and jumped to a 25-22 lead after their defense held Columbia Academy to four points in the quarter to take the three-point lead.

The Fillies kept the defensive pressure up in the fourth quarter and took a 29-22 lead with just over three minutes left in the game. The Lady Bulldogs kept chipping away and trailed by three until Church hit the shot from behind the arc to send the game into overtime.

The Fillies were led in scoring by Anderson Pearson with 10, Dillahunty 9, Cason 7, Ella Atkins 6, Emma Smith 2 and Kaylee Eatmon 2.

Columbia Academy was led by Church with 13, Ellyssa Frey 8, Chloe Love 4, Trulie George 3, Ali Towsend 2 and Johnson 1.