By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

They’re number two, with an eye on number one.

With Thursday’s 76-53 victory over Jordan, the Callaway Lady Cavaliers secured the number two seed for next week’s Region 5-AA tournament.

If the tournament plays out like the seedings suggest, Callaway will end up playing Lamar County for the region championship.

That would be a rematch of last year’s title game that was won by Lamar County.

Would there be a different result this time around?

Time will tell, but the Lady Cavaliers are no doubt riding high as they prepare for their tournament journey.

Callaway, which hosts Lamar County today in the regular-season finale for both teams, has won 10 of its past 11 games.

Callaway (12-8 overall) is 8-3 in the region, while Lamar County (21-2 overall) is 10-1 against region opponents.

“If we all put it together, we’ve got a chance to beat anybody,” Callaway head coach Deyano Martin said. “But we’ve got to put it together.”

Callaway has lost in the region-championship game the past two seasons.

After losing to Heard County in 2017, Callaway fell to Lamar County a year ago.

“We want to get over that hurdle,” Martin said. “We’ve been knocking at the door. We’ve got to kick it down.”

While the outcome of today’s game against Lamar County won’t affect the region seedings at all, Callaway is hoping to make a statement in case the two teams do play again.

Callaway lost to Lamar County 76-54 on Dec. 14.

“Win or lose, we’ve got to let ‘em know we’re going to be here,” Martin said.

Thursday’s game was close early, with Callaway hanging onto a 16-13 lead after the first quarter.

The Lady Cavaliers created some separation in the second period, and they were ahead 37-21 at the halftime break.

Jordan got within 11 late in the third quarter, but Callaway ended the period on a 7-2 run to take a 56-40 lead.

Callaway led by at least 15 points throughout the fourth quarter.

Kierra Jackson, one of the four seniors who was recognized after the game, led Callaway with 16 points.

Qua Beasley, another one of the seniors, added nine points, and freshman post player Camryn Stargell scored eight points.

Callaway’s seniors are Jackson, Beasley, Jasmine Dukes and Haley Holliday, and Martin appreciates everything they’ve done for the program.

“Anytime you have a group of girls stay on the team, that’s something,” Martin said. “And they’ve been with you since they were freshmen. They grow up, they change over the years. You’re proud of them.”

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