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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

COLUMBUS – The Callaway Lady Cavaliers kept it close, but they were unable to finish things off against top-seeded Lamar County in the semifinals of the Region 5-AA tournament at Spencer High.

Callaway got as close as three points in the fourth quarter, but Lamar County held on for the 53-46 victory to advance to the region-championship game against Bremen.

Callaway will play Heard County at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the third-place game.

“We got off to a real slow start, and once you get behind sometimes it’s hard to catch up,” said Callaway head coach Deyano Martin. “If a few shots go in, we have a chance. If we make a few shots and a few free throws, we’ve got ‘em. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. We couldn’t put it in the basket.”

Senior Javonna Bradford had 15 points for Callaway while making three 3-pointers, and Gabrielle Johnson also had 15 points with two 3-pointers.

Niakoe Burks added eight points, and Camryn Stargell scored six points.

The Lady Cavaliers found themselves in a 14-6 hole after the first quarter, and they were behind by 10 points in the second quarter when they went on an 11-2 run to get within two with 1:23 left in the first half.

By the time the halftime break came around, Lamar County had a 25-20 lead.

Lamar County led by as many as nine points in the third quarter, and it held a 41-34 lead as the fourth quarter began.

After a Burks basket got Callaway within five, Bradford drained a 3-pointer to cut Lamar County’s lead to 42-39 with 5:30 remaining.

The Lady Cavaliers kept it close, and they were within four points with 3:48 to play, but they couldn’t get over the hump.

It was a 51-46 game with 2:30 to play, and the only points the rest of the way came on a pair of Lamar County free throws.

After Saturday’s game against Heard County, Callaway will be on the road for the opening round of the state tournament.

OF NOTE: For more photos, check out Facebook.com/LDNSports