A team effort got them to the finals and after plenty of action shots this team photo befits the season and ‘defenseby committee’ earned their regional semi-final win over Bryan-Rudder, 59-51, at the Class 3A Region III tournament. More tournament pictures on page 8. (Banner Staff Photo by Doc Smith) HUNTSVILLE – The 12th ranked Bullard Lady Panthers came out smoking, behind 19 first half points, by sophomore Minta Spears, to take out No. 6 Bryan–Rudder, 59-51, in Class 3A regional action at Johnson Colesium on he Sam Houston State University campus Friday night.

Spears finished with a game-high 23 points in the win.

Heather Camp scored her only two points, to open the game, and Samantha Phillips opened up a lead with a 3-pointer and a 13-6 lead early on, before Spears reeled off 10 points in the opening stanza and a 19-8 Bullard lead.

Rudder warmed up behind sevenpoints from Tori Tucker in the second period, to cut in to a 13 point Bullard lead and make it 28-20. Spears canned six straight freethrows in the second quarter, to counter the Lady Rangers efforts, as Bullard led 32-23 at the intermission..

Rudder chipped away at the lead in the third quarter, behind eight of Marche Arneson’s 15 points in the game. Three-pointers by Christina Hatten and Ally Covalt, made it 43-33, before another run by Rudder cut the lead to make it 43-41, Bullard, after three periods.

The final quarter featured ties at 43, 45, 47, 49, until senior Kayla Welling took over the game. Welling scored five of her eight points in the final stanza, but added three blocked shots, grabbed six rebounds, and drew two charging fouls, to help the Lady Panthers advance.

Madisonville beat Fairfield ,52-46, in the earlier game to set up the regional final game at 3 p.m. today.

BULLARD – Emmy Long, 1; Ashley Ricci, 3; Heather Camp, 2; Ally Covalt, 3; Samantha Phillips, 10; Minta Spears, 23; Ashlee Shidler, 1; Christina Hatten, 7; Kayla Welling, 9.

RUDDER – TiaraTucker, 3; Tori Tucker, 9; Jazzlyn Roberson, 5; Taylor Tucker, 8; Lamarie Cole, 6; Marche Arneson, 15; Alycia Ayers, 2; Tyjha McGee, 2.

THREE POINT GOALS – B: Spears (4), Hatten, Covalt, S. Phillips. R: Tori Tucker. RECORDS – Bullard 30-8. Bryan-Rudder 29-7.

NEXT UP – Bullard vs. Madisonville, regional championship, 3 p.m., Sat. at Johnson Coliseum, Sam Houston State University

campus, Huntsville, TX.