The Taylor County Lady Cardinals earned a hard-fought 64–58 victory over Elizabethtown (E-Town) Thursday night, securing their spot in the 5th Region Championship game.
Taylor County used a balanced offensive effort and strong defensive pressure to hold off E-Town down the stretch. The Lady Cardinals finished the night shooting 9-of-31 from two-point range and 11-of-28 from three-point range, showing their ability to stretch the floor from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, Taylor County capitalized on opportunities by going 13-of-18.
Deener led the scoring effort for the Lady Cardinals with 16 points, including four three-pointers that helped spark the offense at key moments in the game.
On the boards, Raikes led the team with 8 rebounds, helping Taylor County control possessions and limit second-chance opportunities for E-Town.
Benningfield turned in an outstanding all-around performance. She recorded 7 deflections, 5 steals, and shot 6-of-7 from the free throw line, while also adding 4 assists. Her defensive presence helped disrupt E-Town’s offensive rhythm throughout the contest.
Bradstreet also contributed to the team’s ball movement with 4 assists, helping keep the offense flowing.
As a team, Taylor County recorded 27 rebounds, 12 assists, 9 steals, and 4 blocks, while committing 13 turnovers. Their defensive intensity and timely shooting proved to be the difference in the close contest.
With the win, the Lady Cardinals advance to the 5th Region Finals, where they will face Bethlehem tonight with the regional championship on the line. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.
Taylor County will look to carry the momentum from Friday night’s victory into the championship matchup as they aim to capture the region title.