Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
NAUGATUCK Man was eliminated Monday night in the Class A Region 4 Section 1 tournament, falling to Tug Valley, 50-38, at Tug Valley High School.
The Lady Hillbillies used a slow pace to slow the game in the first quarter and led 5-1 after one quarter of play.
Tug Valley would outscore Man, 20-6, in the second quarter turning a four-point deficit into a 10-point lead, 21-11, at halftime.
Bailee Hall led the Lady Panthers with 21 points and Haven Deskins finished with 19.
Tug Valley led 45-22 in the fourth quarter before the Lady Hillbillies went on a 16-0 run to close the gap to seven points, 45-38, however, it would be as close as they would get as the Lady Panthers scored the final five points to advance to Thursday's sectional championship game against top seeded Tolsia.
Jace Baisden and Megan McCoy had 12 points each to lead Man and Jenna Baisden finished with 10 and Braylee Thompson three.
Tug Valley, who had lost 12 of its last 13 games and five straight since defeating Man on January 29, improved to 5-18.
Man entered Monday's game having lost 13 straight and 18 of its last 19 games, closed the year with a 1-19 record.
The Lady Hillbillies started the season under the leadership of Rebecca Rowley following the resignation of last season's coach Brad Copeland.
Garrin Blankenship was named head coach by the Logan County Board of Education on January 9 and 48 hours later led the Lady Hillbillies to their only win of the season, a 47-46 win over Sherman on January 11.
Blankenship is looking forward to next season and hopes Monday's fourth quarter effort is the sign of many things to come in the future for the Lady Hillbillies.