Oakwood vs. Neches - Region III Finals

End of Game
Neches is heading to the state tournament. In a tough defensive contest, the Lady Tigers defeat Oakwood 32-25.

Fourth Quarter
:16 - Neches looks to have this one wrapped up, scoring four straight points and leads 32-23. Oakwood at the free-throw line but it may be a little too late

Fourth Quarter
1:01 - Oakwood's Tori Tucker scores to cut it to 28-23 and Lady Panthers start to foul, Neches misses first of one and one.

Fourth Quarter
2:03 - Raven McFarland big three pointer and Neches leads 28-21 and now is in stall mode. Oakwood has to think about fouling.

Fourth Quarter
3:01 - Oakwood is in the double bonus and Taylor Tucker hits one of two. Neches leads 25-21. Oakwood will have to make free throws down the stretch to come back in this game.

Fourth Quarter
3:31 - Oakwood calls timeout. The Lady Panthers just went 1-for-4 from the free throw line and trail 25-20. Oakwood is 4-of-11 on free throws and Neches is 3-of-9. Does Neches start running clock or do the Lady Tigers continue to keep the high tempo which is how they have played all year?

Fourth Quarter
4:02 - Neches' Raven McFarland hits two free thows to lead 25-19. Both teams in the bonus, this game could come down to who hits free throws.

Fourth Quarter
4:58 - Oakwood cut into the lead, Neches up 23-19

Fourth Quarter
6:33 - Neches has built a 23-15 lead as Raven McFarland had a putback after a missed free throw. With how this game has been played, this eight-point lead seems more like a 20-point lead. But plenty of time for Oakwood.

Fourth Quarter
7:35 - Oakwood's Tiara Tucker fouls out tring to go for a loose ball. Neches still leads 18-15.

End Third Quarter
A little more offense in the third quarter. Neches leads 18-15 with eight minutes to play to decide who heads to the state tournament. Both teams have primarily gone with their starters for most of this game, so fatigue may be a factor in the fourth quarter. With how this game has been played, every basket from here on out will be so valuable.

Third Quarter
3:43 - Neches' Roddricka Patton hits a three ponter and Neches leads 16-12. Lady Tigers finding the range from the outside.

Third Quarter
4:31 - Timeout Neches. Lady Tigers lead 13-12 as Raven McFarland hit a three pointer. She looked have made another three but was called for traveling before the shot went off. Oakwood broke the press and Taylor Tucker scored her 12th point of the game, prompting the Neches' timeout.

Halftime
Defense has been the name of the game for this regional finals. Oakwood and Neches are tied 10-10 at halftime. Oakwood's Taylor Tucker has all 10 of her team's points. Deana Patton has six of Neches' 10 points and Raven McFarland has the other four points. These two teams combined for 128 points in their wins Friday in the seminfinals. So is it good defense, cold shooting or both? Both teams are shooting 5-of-26 from the floor as most of the shots are being contested. The game is a high tempo but neither teams has been able to get into the open court.

Second Quarter
1:03 - Oakwood timeout. Neches has scored four straight points - the Lady Tigers first of the quarter - to take a 10-8 lead. Deana Patton scored the four points, including a basket after a Roddricka Patton steal.

Second Quarter
2:03 - Oakwood has taken an 8-6 lead as Taylor Tucker has scored all eight points for the Lady Panthers. Neches still has not scored in the quarter as the Lady Tigers are shooting 3-for-25

Second Quarter
4:08 - Oakwood timeout. Neither team has scored in the second quarter. Both teams are playing great defense, not allowing any open looks. For two teams that like to run the ball at all teams, only two points havebeen scored off the fast break.

End First Quarter
Neches leads 6-4 after the first quarter. A little lower scoring than some may have expected but both defenses have shown their speed to get back and not allow the fast breaks. Also, both teams cannot find the bottom of the bucket when they do shoot the ball. Neches is 3-of-15 shooting and Oakwood is 2-of-14.

First Quarter
3:01 - Neches leads 4-2 as both teams are struggling from the field. However, neither teams seems to be bothered by the other team's press.

Pregame
Oakwood and Neches are five minutes from the start of the Class A, Division II Region III finals in Nacogdoches. The winner of today's game will represent Region III at the state tournament next week in Austin. Oakwood comes int witha record of 33-2 and Neches has a record of 33-3. The two teams played twice during District 24-A with each team winning on their home court.