Top-seeded Ava was strong throughout defensively in a 44-25 win over Willow Springs in the Class 4 District 11 semifinals on Thursday.
Ava did not allow Willow Springs to score more than eight points in any one quarter. After the first quarter, Ava built up an 8-6 lead on Willow Springs with Sara Mendel scoring all eight first-quarter points. The lead grew to 17-10 at the half. Out of the half, Ava’s offense had its best quarter of the game outscoring Willow Springs 14-8 to advance the lead to 31-18 with one quarter left. Ava closed the game out on a 13-7 note to win 44-25.
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Mendel scored a game-high 22 points for Ava. She had all of the first quarter points for the Lady Bears and 11 of 14 in the third quarter.
Ava will face the winner of Rogersville and Mountain Grove in the Class 4 District 11 championship game at 3 pm on Saturday in Mountain Grove.
Willow Springs – 6-4-8-7 — 25
Ava – 8-9-14-13 — 44
W: Chloe Jones 14, Anna Minge 7, Dana Canedo 4
A: Sara Mendel 22, Keeley Akers 8, Celia Fossett 7, Lexie Gastineau 4, Emma Smith 3
