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Cocke County overcame an early deficit but was unable to pull off magic a second game in a row as they fell to White County 46-43 in the semifinals of the state championships.

The game ended up being a physical battle in the second half as the teams combined to shoot 50 free throws.

White County held an 11-7 lead after one, reminiscent to Cocke County’s opening game in which they trailed Liberty Creek 20-7 after the first. In the case of Liberty Creek, Lady Red shut them out in the second period and raced on to victory. While not as stark Friday afternoon, Lady Red repeated its second quarter run, outscoring White County 14-13, and trailed 24-21 at the half.

Karmine Carmichael led the way for Lady Red in the first, scoring nine on a 3-for-6 showing from the field. She was a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. She led Lady Red with six rebounds in the first half. Gracie Clark was her nemesis in the first half as she scored 14 for White County before the break.

Lady Red soon erased their deficit and grabbed the lead early in the third. White County was able to wrestle the lead away midway through the third and extended their lead to three at the four-minute mark of the third frame. However, Carmichael regained the lead seconds later with a jumper in the lane. Lady Red led 29-28 with two minutes to go in the quarter as White County went on a five-minute scoring drought, ending that drought just before the end of the quarter with a field goal to lead 30-29 going into the fourth.

The fourth started with a run by White County as they took a 35-29 lead within the first two minutes of the final frame as Cocke County made a pair of turnovers helping generate the early Sparta offense. Carmichael halted the run by hitting a long jumper to make it 35-31 for the Lady Warriors. However, the Lady Warriors answered at the four-minute mark by making a pair of free throws, making it 37-31. Carmichael scored her 19th point to make it 37-33 the next time down the court.

Cocke County got a break at the three-minute mark when Clark fouled out although her scoring had slowed in the second half as she had just two second half points before being disqualified.

White County led 41-38 at the two minute mark after Brooke Clevenger converted an and-one. Her foul was the 38th foul of the contest in what became a foul-fest late. Carmichael brought it to a one point game as she slashed through the lane for two making it 41-40 for the Sparta girls at the one minute mark. White County went up 43-40 on an offensive rebound. Cocke County was fouled on the next possession and was able to go one-for-two take make it 43-41. White County then went up 45-43.

Ava Wheeler went to the line three times, making two attempts to bring the score to 45-43 with 12 seconds left. Wheeler was able to get a last second prayer off from beyond the arc but the shot missed.

White County will move on to face Dyersburg for the 3A title Saturday.

Carmichael led all scorers with 23 points on the night along with 10 rebounds. Ava Wheeler scored seven. White County was 20-for-30 from the foul line while Cocke County was 12-for-20, the foul line being the difference in the close contest. Also lacking for Lady Red was its outside shooting as they were only 1-for-11 outside the arc. White County didn’t set the world on fire from long range either as they were just 2-for-10.

In the turnover department, the teams had a total of 28 combined with Lady Red having 15 of them.