By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

The Callaway Lady Cavaliers beat Spencer 43-41 in overtime on Friday to earn the second seed for next week’s Region 5-AA tournament.

The Lady Cavaliers received a bye into the semifinals, meaning they’re already assured of a spot in the state tournament.

“I told the girls (before the game) the bottomline is, we control our destiny,” Callaway head coach Deyano Martin said. “All we had to do was go and take care of business tonight. It gives us a chance to take a break, and work on some things. And all we have to do is win two games to be the (region) champs.”

Spencer made Callaway work for it.

Callaway had a four-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but Spencer rallied to tie it at 37-37 and force overtime.

In the four-minute overtime period, Leijorey Sanders hit a jumper with 2:10 to play to give the Lady Cavaliers the lead, and they were ahead the rest of the way.

Spencer did have the ball at the end down by two, but Chyna Cameron’s blocked shot at the buzzer preserved the win.

Cameron, Callaway’s lone senior, enjoyed a dominant game in the post with 17 points, and Sanders and Qua Beasley each scored eight points.

Jasmine Dukes added six points.

Callaway was ahead 36-32 in regulation when Beasley scored, but Spencer came back and tied it at 37-37 with 18 seconds left.

The Lady Cavaliers had the ball at the end of regulation, but a potential game-winning shot didn’t fall.

Spencer had a 39-38 lead in overtime until Sanders, Callaway’s outstanding sophomore point guard, gave her team the lead for good.

“Spencer fought hard,” Martin said. “They played really, really hard. They wanted to win.”