REPUBLIC, Mo. -- The Class 4 District 11 Girls Basketball Tournament got off to an interesting start on Monday night at Republic High School, as the fourth-seeded Marshfield Lady Blue Jays shook off a somewhat lackluster first half to soundly defeat the fifth-seeded Logan-Rogersville Wildcats 65-45.
Marshfield's youth appeared to affect them in the first half, as many of the Lady Jays were no doubt receiving their first postseason experience. The Lady Jays do not feature a single senior on their roster, and their starting lineup consisted solely of sophomores and juniors.
Rogersville actually held a one point advantage after the first quarter, yet Coach Gary Murphy's Lady Jays rebounded in the second quarter to outscore Rogersville 10-8 and take a 24-23 halftime lead. Lauren Aldridge had 10 points at the half to lead Marshfield, and freshman center Sammy French scored several key baskets as well.
Marshfield would come out with a greater sense of purpose and intensity in the second half, as the Lady Jays' talent proved too much for Coach Keith Spaulding’s Wildcats. Marshfield would outscore the Lady Wildcats 16-7 in the third quarter to take a 46-30 lead going into the final eight minutes.
