Tuscarora Carrigan
Alysa Carrigan presses the attack after getting one of her school-record 13 steals Friday night.

Middleton, Carrigan lead Tuscarora girls into VHSL Semis over Louisa, 70-41

Tuscarora’s dynamic duo of senior guard Grace Middleton and junior forward Alysa Carrigan combined for 50 points during their 70-41 win over Louisa County in the Class 4 State quarterfinal.

Middleton led the way with 29 points, nine rebounds, four steals and four assists. Carrigan set a school record with 13 steals, while also contributing 21 points, six assists, five rebounds and three blocks. Both players credited their performances to the overall team effort and preparation, which is a message their coaches have been emphasizing late in the season.

“We’ve been preaching to them down the stretch – teams win state championships,” Tuscarora head coach Tayler Dodson said. “When you get to this level it is a team effort. We need these two to have their game, but we need everyone else to come in and have those minutes. We’ve been preaching team defense, team offense – if you’re open you gotta take those shots with confidence and you’ve gotta hit shots. I think when you’re on a state run, that’s basically what it comes down to. Big players are going to always play big, what teams are going to step up and meet the moment where it’s at?”

Louisa County senior guard and Davidson commit Sylvie Jackson led the way for the Lions with 21 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Jackson set the tone as she scored the first two baskets for Louisa County (23-4), taking a 4-0 lead. But Tuscarora’s fast pace would quickly generate an 8-2 run as they forced six steals from their press and converted them into fast break points. The game was tied at eight at the end of the first quarter after Jackson stole the ball and laid it in at the buzzer.

“Our game plan tonight was to limit Sylvie [Jackon’s] touches as much as possible,” Coach Dodson said. “She is a fantastic player, and she has probably the quickest shot release that I’ve seen at this level. It was kind of an untraditional defense, she was in full help the entire time and we were saying – other people have to beat us. All five of them had to buy in defensively.”

Grace Middleton, the Region 4C Player of the Year, led Tuscarora with 29 points.
Grace Middleton, the Region 4C Player of the Year, led Tuscarora with 29 points.

Tuscarora would gain some separation during the second quarter as its press continued to overwhelm the Lions, and they entered the half with a 27-21 lead.

“I think the paint opened up because we had people like Grace and Jess [Owusu] off the bench that came in and hit shots,” Coach Dodson said. “Once you hit a couple threes the inside really does open up.”

The momentum took a huge shift in the third quarter as the Huskies outscored the Lions 24-8. The surge was led by Carrigan’s eight points and four steals, including an and-one play that brought the crowd to their feet as she flexed.

“I was super excited, the atmosphere was great.” Carrigan said with a smile. “Shout out to Lillie Scheivert for always being my hype man.”

The Huskies fast-tempo has routinely benefitted them in the second half as most opponents can’t keep up with their pace.

The Huskies move on to face Pulaski County in the VHSL Class 4 Semis.
The Huskies move on to face Pulaski County in the VHSL Class 4 Semis.

“We mentioned before we left the locker room, we feel like our third quarter is our strongest suit of our games recently,” Coach Dodson said. “We continue to come out in that third quarter on fire. We continue to say at halftime – stick with our game plan. We know that we’re going to play fast, we know that teams are going to get tired. We know that our press is going to eventually kick in, so we try to preach staying in and with our gameplan.”

The Lions were unable to catch up as Tuscarora held Jackson to six points in the final quarter.

“I think that we followed scout very well,” Middleton said. “We knew who to guard, how to guard, and to be up on everyone else besides Sylvie (Jackson.)”

The Huskies (24-2) will play in the semifinal on Monday against Pulaski High School.

–TJ Davis
@Ttown316