Lady Zizzer Basketball upsets Logan-Rogersville to win tournament
Tue, 01/28/2025 - 12:09pm
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By:
Sue Fiorino, contributing writer
The Lady Zizzer basketball upset another State-ranked team, Logan-Rogersville, 58-56, last Thursday, January 24, to win the 32nd annual Gary Keeling Tournament in Bolivar.
On Monday, the Lady Zizzers rolled over Sedalia Smith-Cotton, 77-47. Gillian Green led the Lady Zizzers with a double-double racking up 17 points and 14 rebounds.
On Wednesday, the Lady Zizzers routed the Parkview Vikings, 79-14. Yes, that score is right, West Plains won by a staggering 65 points. Ainsley McWilliams led the Zizzers with 25 points, Gillian Green put in 20 points, and Zoe Shrubb had 13 points.
The big test was Thursday when West Plains took on State-ranked #4 Logan-Rogersville, who came into the contest with a 14-3 record.
West Plains trailed the fast-paced game 11-15 at the end of one quarter but by halftime, the Lady Zizzers had exploded into the lead behind six 3-pointers in the second quarter. West Plains was ahead, 35-29.
“They followed our game plan and executed the adjustments we made during the game, and they put themselves in the position to win,” said Coach Christy Otter.
After a scrappy third quarter, the Lady Zizzers held a narrow lead, 49-45.
It came down to the wire in the fourth quarter with 43 seconds left and the score tied at 56-all. Logan-Rogersville missed a three-pointer and the Lady Zizzers took it the other direction and in a thrilling finish, found two under the basket by Gillian Green. The Lady Zizzers won 58-56!
“This was a great win for our team and it took every single player to get it done,” said Coach Otter. “Rogersville is a very good team and has one of the best guards in the state. Lucy Hafer did an outstanding job holding her to only 3 field goals for the game. Everyone talks about how many points players score, but without the defensive efforts of Lucy and Delani Wahome holding their 6’3” post to 4 points in the second half, this would’ve been a different story.”
The coach is right of course but it is worth noting that Ainsley McWilliams led the Lady Zizzers in the game against Logan-Rogersville by scoring 21 points and Gillian Green hit 18. Lucy Hafer, the defensive star of the night, also chipped in seven points.
“I am happy that our girls are beginning to compete and win against some of the best teams in the state,” said Coach Otter. “These girls are just awesome!”
The Lady Zizzers advance to a 11-6 record and have a lull in their schedule this week with no games. The girls basketball team will take action again at home against Logan-Rogersville on February 3.