Wilson Central’s Kendall Spray scored 10 second-quarter points in Saturday’s Class AAA sectional matchup against visiting Ravenwood.
The Wilson Central girls basketball team added win No. 33 to its spectacular season on Saturday, rolling to decisive sectional victory over Ravenwood 75-40 to secure the program’s first state tournament berth since 2011.
“The girls that are here right now, we’ve never been to state, so it’s a big step forward for us and Coach (John) Wild, too,” Wilson Central senior Kendall Spray said.
The Region 6-AAA runner-up Lady Raptors, playing without injured sophomore star Kierra Downey, kept things close in the first half. However, the Lady Wildcats (33-0), led by Spray’s 32-point performance, pulled away in the third quarter.
“You never know,” Ravenwood coach Mariska Harris said of the absence of Downey, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Region 6-AAA semifinal win over Cane Ridge. “Obviously Kierra is an impact player for our team, and she had been all season.
“You can say ‘what if,’ but at the end of the day she wasn’t out there, and you’ve got to go with what you have.”
Spray, who was held scoreless in the opening quarter, tallied 10 points in the final 2:18 of the first half, and the 5-foot-6 UT Martin signee really caught fire in the second half.
“There was about a four-minute flurry there late in the third (quarter) and early in the fourth where Kendall was Kendall,” Wild said. “It’s fun to watch, and the rest of the kids feed off of her so much.”
Spray hit four 3-pointers, boosting her state record for 165 on the season.
Wilson Central’s Piper Elrod buried five 3-pointers, finishing with 15 points, as the Lady Wildcats hit 14 shots beyond the arc.
“They came out in an inverted triangle and two and took away Addison (Byrd) and Kendall,” Wild said. “I mean they were right there with us in the first half. We couldn’t hit shots, but tonight showed how much mentally tougher we have gotten.”
Senior Bailey Swayze finished with a team-high 12 points to lead Ravenwood (23-11), making its first sectional appearance since 2011, while freshman Margaret Gleason and senior Megan Hawken each contributed 10 points.
“I told my five seniors that they helped lay the foundation,” said Harris, in her second season with the Lady Raptors. “It’s no more, ‘Let’s get to regions.’ Our goal should be going for championships — district and region, and going to state.
“I want this group to go to the next step.”
CPA 47, Cheatham Co. 34: CPA (26-4) will return to the state tournament for the first time since 2013 after beating Cheatham County 47-34 in Class AA.
CPA led 25-17 at halftime and cruised in the second half to get the victory.
Kenedi Hambrick led CPA with 18 points, while Carrington Washburn added 15. Abbi Douglas led Cheatham County with 17 points.
East Nashville 69, Creek Wood 39: East Nashville (29-2) punched its state ticket in Class AA, thanks to a 22-6 third-quarter run that put the game away.
Le’Jzae Davidson had a huge game for East Nashville, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring 31 points. Carolina Edmondson and Taylor Moore each scored 10 for Creek Wood (26-11).
Riverdale 76, Cumberland Co. 56: Anastasia Hayes scored 30 points to lead Riverdale, which will return to the Class AAA tournament for the first time since 2015. Hayes also scored the 2,000th point of her career.
Hayes hit 8 of 10 free throws in the final 4:41.
Bradley Central 68, Stewarts Creek 58: Brianah Ferby scored 22 points and Brandi Ferby had 11 for Stewarts Creek in Class AAA.
Dickson Co. 50, Rossview 45: The Lady Cougars (29-3) return to the Class AAA tourney as Vanderbilt signee LeaLea Carter scored 22 points.
Community 66, Columbia Acad. 20: Community (29-2) outscored Columbia Academy (24-7) 35-12 in the first half and cruised in Class A. Sarah Pierce scored 26 points to lead Community.
Also, Perry County won 53-44 over Houston County.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports .