Granted, Clarke Central swept Madison County (18-6, 8-2) in the regular season series, but the Lady Raiders enter the region tournament knowing that the last laugh can be theirs in the region tournament.
If the two teams both win their first two region tournament games, the bitter rivals will lockup again in the 8-AAAA finals Feb. 20.
That would give Madison County the chance to avenge both regular season losses to the Lady Gladiators and win a region title in one fell swoop.
A lot has to happen for that to be a reality, but it’s a possibility that coach Dan Lampe relishes.
“Personally, I want to see them,” he said. “That would be a double-bonus for me. You never want to be swept during the season by somebody.”
Madison County starts the 8-AAAA tournament Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Monroe Area High School against an opponent that’s yet to be determined.
It’s important that Madison County not only qualify for the state tournament but have a strong showing while at region, because finishing first or second in 8-AAAA would set Madison County up nicely for a state tournament run.
As a no. 1 or 2 seed, the Lady Raiders would draw a favorable matchup in round one against a Region 5 no. 3 or no. 4 seed, Lampe noted. Round two would likely be against a high seed from Region 7, a matchup that Lampe also likes.
Madison County is coming off a 46-32 victory over Habersham Central Tuesday night in its regular season finale, in which the Lady Red Raiders limited the “other” Lady Raiders to just one field goal and six points in the first half.
“This was probably the best half of defense that we’ve had,” Lampe said.
Habersham Central hit just seven field goals all night. The rest of its points came from the free throw line.
Offensively, Lauren Smith sparked Madison County – which led 27-6 at the half and 41-19 after three quarters — with 18 points.
Kayla Freeman was given the night off to rest an injured ankle, and Elizabeth Whieldon stepped up with 13 points and 10 rebounds in her absence.
Freeman will be ready to go Wednesday when Madison County starts region tournament play.
Though a region title is a goal and a rematch with Clarke Central is possible, the Lady Raiders certainly aren’t looking ahead in the tournament, Lampe said.
Second-seed Madison County must beat the winner of Heritage/Rockdale County and Habersham Central in the first round to clinch its fifth-straight state tournament berth.
Madison County would then most likely have to beat sixth-ranked Salem (22-3), barring an upset, of course, in the second round to get to the 8-AAAA title game.
“We’ve got to (qualify for) state first and then from that point, we’ll assess who’ve we’ve got next,” Lampe said.
But should Madison County reach the region title contest, the Lady Raiders hope the Lady Gladiators are there waiting.
“I think they all want that,” Lampe said of his players. “They want to run that one back for sure … I don’t know if you want to call it revenge, but you don’t want to be swept during the season.”
•Clarke Central 45, Madison Co. 33 (Feb. 5): Madison County was limited to a season-low point total in a 45-33 loss to Clarke Central Friday in a battle for first place in the subregion.
Molly Glaze led the Lady Raiders with 11 points and Shantydra Arnold added 10, but no one else on the roster registered more than four against Madison County’s chief rivals.
That included leading scorer Kayla Freeman. Freeman, who was injured in the second quarter, was limited to two baskets.
Madison County sought redemption against the Lady Gladiators for a 66-57 overtime loss to Clarke Central Jan. 19 and the game lived up to its billing for the majority of the night.
The Lady Gladiators led 19-17 at the break and 27-24 after three quarters, but outscored Madison County 18-9 in the final period.
That included a 7-1 Clarke Central run to close the game after Madison County had pulled to within 38-32 of the Lady Gladiators.
MCHS 46, Hab. Central 32 (Feb. 9)
MCHS 13 14 14 5 — 46
HCHS 2 4 13 13 — 32
Scorers: Smith 18, Whieldon 13, Arnold 8, LaZear 5, Glaze 2
Clarke Central 45, Madison Co. 33 (Feb. 5)
CCHS 10 9 8 18 — 45
MCHS 7 10 7 9 — 33
Scorers: Glaze 11, Arnold 10, Freeman 4, Whieldon 4, Smith 4
