March 10, 2011

Lady Tigers Claim District Title, Advance to State Playoffs

For just the third time in the program's history, the Scotland County girls basketball team has advanced to the state tournament. -and for the third time perennial powerhouse Clopton stands in the Lady Tigers' way of a dream trip to Columbia.

SCR-I (18-7) claimed the Class 2 District Title on Saturday in Queen City with a 42-27 victory over Schuyler County.

Clopton (25-3) narrowly edged Louisiana (15-11) 38-36 to win the District 5 title and set up the rematch with the Lady Tigers. The Lady Hawks were ranked #6 in the final regular season Class 2 state poll.

Scotland County's first-ever district title in girls basketball was short-circuited one-game later by the Hawks. Clopton bested SCR-I 77-45 in the Class 2 playoffs in 2003 in a game that saw Megan Fromm pour in 23 points in her final high school contest. Clopton, then ranked #1, went on to lose to Skyline 61-44 in the state championship game.

The Lady Tigers returned to the state playoffs in 2006 with a 52-42 victory over Canton to claim the school's second district title.

Clopton again stood in SCR-I's path, dispatching the Lady Tigers 74-44 in Hannibal. Scotland County played without leading scorer Ali Fromm who was injured in the district title game. Jamie Fuller led SCR-I in scoring with 17 points.

Clopton, the 2005 reigning state champions, had to settle for second place in 2006, falling to Metro 49-44, giving the Hawks their third, second place in state in four years. Clopton made the state title game four consecutive seasons from 2003-2006.

The Hawks made the final four in 2007 before Canton ended the Lady Hawks strangle hold on the district title in 2008 and 2009.

Scotland County returns to the state playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Lady Tigers bowed out of the district tournament in 2007 and 2008 with losses to Salisbury. In 2009, Scotland County lost the district championship game to Marceline and last year Cairo beat SCR-I in the district title game.