Senior guard Abigail Rogers came to life in the second half to scored 19 of her game-high 23 points and help the Eagle’s Landing Christian girls advanced to the Class A Private semifinals for the first time in school history.
The Chargers used a big surge in the second and third quarters to subdue Calvary Day 55-44 in the quarterfinals at Kennesaw State. ELCA will play Greenforest in the semifinals on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. to determine who goes to the title game
Rogers did a little bit of everything in the third quarter. She scored on drives to the basket, she made jumpers and she scored on rebounds. Rogers grabbed loose balls and directed traffic as the No. 10 seeded Chargers ended Calvary Day’s 18-game winning streak.
“Abigail Rogers played a great game She had 12 points in the third, 19 in second half,” ELCA coach Andy Whitlock said. “We were missing a lot of those shots in the first half so we felt like we were getting good looks.”
Calvary Day coach Hamilton Jackie said, “(Rogers) played well and shot well. We just didn’t execute offensively very well. We forced some shots in the first half and didn’t do a good job on Rogers. It was execution for the most part. Didn’t help much on defense.”
ELCA led 40-27 at the end of three quarters and by allowed Calvary Day to get within eight points early in the third quarter when Nyjah Parker made back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to 43-35. But ELCA answered with a basket by Catie Wallace and could never get closer than nine again.
“It all started with defense,” Whitlock said. “They were struggling to get open looks. We really focused on trying to deny the inside game for them. Our defenee really got us moving. “
ELCA (18-8) also got 15 points from guard Parker Pinholster.
Calvary Day (28-2) was led by Parker with 14 points and six rebounds and Catie Thomas, who scored 13 points before falling and injuring her wrist. Parker was unable to return and left the gym with the wrist heavily taped and iced down.
“This is the third year in a row we’ve gotten here (to the quarterfinals) and it’s the first time we’ve won it,” Whitlock said.
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