The Narrows girls’ basketball team advanced to the state round of playoffs by defeating Covington and Bath County last week, even though they lost in the region finals to Bland County.

They won the opening round of their regional matchup by defeating Covington at home 65-32 last Tuesday night. The story of the game was the polarizing offenses on display.

Savanna Burton opened the game with a quick bucket inside which sparked the Green Wave offense to go on a 20-2 run led by Starla Reed who scored seven of her 16 points in the first quarter.

Cameron Snidow added six points in the quarter while Burton added four. Andi Guynn also added three points for the Lady Waves.

Covington added three more points to make the first quarter score 20-5, Narrows.

"The last couple of games I think we played a little uptight," Narrows coach Wayne Gautier said. "Tonight we just told them to start the season all over, 0-0."

At the beginning of the season they rolled over opponents and that is what they did to Covington, starting the second quarter with a 7-2 run.

Snidow scored half of the 14 second quarter points while Reed, Guynn, and Alicia Weatherly combined for the other seven. Covington only scored seven points in the second quarter to make the halftime score 34-12, Narrows.

Coming out of halftime Narrows went on a 7-0 run which culminated into an 18 point third quarter led by six different Narrows players. Covington was limited to seven points, to make the score at the end of the third quarter 52-19.

Starla Reed and Abby Davis added four points each to lead to the Green Wave girls in the fourth quarter. Spencer Lindsey added a three and Kayla Craig added two points. Narrows and Covington both scored 13 points in the quarter.

Like the game versus Grayson last week, Gautier has increasingly relied upon his bench to get the team through injuries and foul trouble. Reed, Kaitlynn McCroskey, Craig, Lindsey and Abby Davis have all filled in off the bench. Davis has filled in for Weatherly when she has come off the floor.

"We just told her to come out and play hard, she’s very strong inside," Gautier said. "We just got to have everyone contributing."

Scoring for Narrows were Snidow with 18 points (who also had ten steals and ten rebounds), Reed with 16 points, Burton with seven points, Guynn with six points, Weatherly with five points, Abby Davis and Katasha Davis with four points each, Lindsey with three points, Craig with two points.

Narrows won their semifinal matchup versus Bath County 58-54 at George Wythe last Thursday. The key second win allowed them access through the doors of the state tournament, though getting that win wasn’t easy.

The Lady Waves got off to a great start offensively as they scored 19 points compared to Bath’s seven points in the first quarter. Bath County fought back in the second, scoring 15 points compared to Narrows’ 13 points. The halftime score was 32-22, Narrows.

Bath scored 21 more points by the end of the third quarter and Narrows added 19 points. The score at the end of the third was 51-43, Narrows.

Though Bath scored 11 points to Narrows’ seven points, they held on for the victory. Snidow continued her good performance in the playoffs, scoring 15 points for Narrows, with nine of those points coming off of three pointers.

Also scoring for Narrows were Lindsey and Weatherly with 11 points each, K. Davis with ten points, Reed with seven points, Burton with three points, Brittany Hughes with two points.

The Narrows girls lost a tough game to rival Bland County 46-45 last Saturday in the region finals.

Narrows led a low scoring beginning to the game 9-7 at the end of the first quarter. Bland got the edge at the end of the second quarter, scoring 14 points compared to Narrows’ nine.

The score at halftime was 21-18, Bland.

Narrows scored 16 points compared to Bland’s seven points to give Narrows the 34-28 lead.

Bland would pull ahead in the end with an 18 point fourth quarter while Narrows scored 11. Scoring for Narrows were Burton with 18 points, Snidow and Reed with seven points each, Weatherly and K. Davis with five points each, Lindsey with two points, and Guynn with one point.

Gautier said that the team performed well defensively but in the end it came back to what has hurt them the past few games, foul shots. Bland made 8-10 foul shots in the fourth quarter while Narrows was 10-26 for the game.

About returning to the state tournament, Gautier said it was an honor.

"The girls have worked hard," he said.

Though the team will face the number one team in the state, J.I. Burton, he reiterated the fact that they upset Council during the first round last season.

"We think we got a chance," Gautier said.

The game will be played in Bristol, Virginia at Virginia High on Saturday at 1:30. Presale tickets will be sold at Narrows High.

Directions to get to the state matchup are as follows: Beginning at Narrows High School a person would need to head south on Woodland Avenue toward Riverside Avenue.

After reaching Riverside Avenue they would need to take a sharp right at Franklin Street, follow that for 0.2 mile then take a right at Fleshman Street. 112 feet later you will need to take the first left onto MacArthur Lane and stay on it for around a minute. Then continue onto Monroe Street for around another minute.

Continue onto Park Drive/ VA-61 W for 20.2 miles (30 minutes). Turn left at N Scenic Hwy/ US-52 S/VA-61 W. Then take the second right to stay on N Scenic Hwy/US-52 S/ VA-61 W for about a minute.

Then turn left to merge onto I-77 S and stay on there for 23.2 miles then take exit 40 to merge onto I-81/US-52 N toward Bristol. Continue to follow I-81 S for 67.2 miles.