With a 49-46 lead to start the fourth quarter, Fairfield Central dominated the final period to post a 73-59 win over the Blacksburg Lady Wildcats in second round state playoff action on Friday. (Ledger Photo by SCOTT POWELL)
For three quarters, Blacksburg made enough three point shots Friday to keep pace against Fairfield Central’s constant defensive pressure.
Blacksburg senior guard Kalynn Littlejohn made a rare four point play to pull the Lady Wildcats within 51-50 to start the fourth quarter. Fairfield Central eighth grader Jazzlyn McMillan keyed a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to push the lead to 58-50.
Blacksburg never got any closer in a 73-59 loss to Fairfield Central in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
McMillan scored 27 points while All-State selection Jordyn Adams had 23 points.
Zanariah Yarborough added 14 points. Her biggest impact came on the defensive end where she held Blacksburg’s top inside threat Annabella Foster scoreless.
Leading by one after the first quarter, KK Dawkins and Littlejohn hit back to back three pointers to give Blacksburg a 23-17 lead with 4:48 left in the second. The teams were tied at 32 at halftime.
Fairfield Central turned up the frontcourt pressure in the third quarter and started to double team every Blacksburg player with the ball. The Lady Wildcats struggled to hold onto the ball in the second half and had fewer scoring opportunities.
“This is a tough way to end the season and our senior Kalynn Littlejohn’s career,” Rodgers said. “Their coach made a good halftime adjustment on defense, and we didn’t adjust to it.”
Littlejohn led the Lady Wildcats with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Dawkins added 16 points while Taylor Tessner had eight.
Blacksburg ends the season with a 9-14 record after winning the region for a third straight year.
Rodgers was named the Region IA Coach of the Year. The Lady Wildcats All-Region players were Littlejohn, Foster, Tessner and Danica Henderson.
“We want to thank everyone for all the support,” Rodgers said. “We will be back.”
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