JOHN MIDDLETON|Daily Enterprise Black Mountain's Jesse Johnson hit a 3-pointer during a 41-37 win over James A. Cawood in the semifinals of the county seventh- and eighth-grade tournament on Monday. Johnson had 10 points to help lead the Tigerettes.

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JOHN MIDDLETON|Daily Enterprise Cawood's Chasity Stewart drove to the basket during a 32-26 victory over Rosspoint in Monday's semifinal contest. Stewart had 12 points to lead the Lady Comets.

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JOHN MIDDLETON

Sports Editor

Black Mountain and Cawood advanced to the county seventh- and eighth-grade championship with a pair of dramatic victories in the tournament semifinals on Monday.

Top-seeded Black Mountain (16-0) held on for a 41-37 victory over James A. Cawood (10-8) in the first contest.

“It’s all about surviving and advancing. James A. Cawood has a very good outfit. They gave us all we wanted. They played hard and took it right down to the wire,” said Black Mountain coach Glenn Ford. “We didn’t help ourselves by missing a load of free throws. Hopefully, we will hit those tomorrow night.”

Black Mountain was led by a trio of Tigerettes as Rebecca Middleton, Jesse Johnson and Leah Evans each contributed 10 points.

“That is the way we have been all year. It is not just one person. We have been a team all year,” Ford said.

Kaylea Gross paced the Trojanettes with 15 points.

After dropping four games to Rosspoint (12-5) during the season, the Cawood Lady Comets came away with a win when it mattered most. Cawood (13-6) upset the second-seeded Lady Cats in the nightcap.

“They beat us four times this season, so we had no pressure on us. I think they got pushed against the wall and decided to play all four quarters as a team,” said Cawood coach Emily Noe. “Tonight we played from start to finish, and that is what made the difference.”

Chasity Stewart paced the Lady Comets with 12 points, while Phebe McHargue’s 11 points led Rosspoint.

The Lady Comets were sporting black armbands during Monday’s contest in honor assistant coach Teddy Stephens’ father, Marion Stephens, who passed away on Sunday.

Black Mountain will meet Cawood in the championship today at 7 p.m. James A. Cawood will face Rosspoint in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m.

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BLACK MOUNTAIN (41) - Rebecca Middleton 10, Jesse Johnson 10, Leah Evans 10, Makala Pace 6, Kaitlin Evans 3, Bethany Day 2.

JAMES A. CAWOOD (37) - Kaylea Gross 15, Noah Canady 9, Jessica Brock 8, Savvanah Faulkner 5.

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CAWOOD (32) - Chasity Stewart 12, Toni Irvin 6, Miranda Skidmore 6, Katelyn Johnson 4, Reanna Middleton 3, Miranda Cook 1.

ROSSPOINT (26) - Phebe McHargue 11, Breann Turner 5, Emily Raleigh 4, Morgan Napier 3, Taylor Johnson 2, Samantha Napier 1.