SA girls bow out of state playoffs

Published 10:40 pm Wednesday, March 3, 2010

EXMORE–Southampton Academy’s season came to a close Wednesday night with a 55-44 loss to Broadwater Academy in the quarterfinals of the Virginia Independent Schools Division III girls’ basketball playoffs.

Lindsay Raulston led the Lady Raiders with 25 points. SA’s leading scorer during the season, Gabby Gatten, was slowed by a bout with tendinitis in her knee. She scored just 10 points in the loss.

“She could not push off hard today. Without her offense, we aren’t the same team,” said Burdette Gatten, SA head coach and Gabby’s father. “It is aggravating to have an injury knock us out of a state title.”

Gatten said his team kept the game close with strong defensive play.

“We had out chance to cut it to two late in the fourth quarter. We were always in striking distance but could not buy a basket,” he said.

The Lady Raiders, who won the Virginia Commonwealth Conference tournament last weekend, finished the season at 19-5.