JACKSON - Saturday, the Ripley Lady Tigers used an inside-outside attack to move one step closer to a state title.

Guard Shunquest Howell connected on four of five 3-pointers and post player Becca Ruckes was a perfect 7 of 7 from the paint, as the Lady Tigers rolled to a 71-51 victory over the Choctaw Lady Warriors in the semifinals of the MHSAA 3A girls’ state tournament. The win sets up a fifth and final rematch with the Belmont Lady Cardinals for the 3A state championship Friday, March 5, at the Big House.

“That’s exactly what we wanted,” said Ripley coach Katie Bates, referring to the rematch with Belmont. “That was our whole motivation for this game. We wanted them, we asked for them, and now we’re getting them.”

The Lady Tigers(23-9) used that motivation to beat a Lady Warrior team that had won nine of their last 10 ball games, including the South Half Championship.

Howell, who finished with 15 points, put Ripley ahead 10-2 with 4:20 to play the first quarter with her first three of the ballgame. With 1:09 left in the quarter, she connected again to put the Tigers ahead 19-8.

Ruckes scored six points in the second quarter to help keep Choctaw Central at bay after they made a run to tie the game at 21 with 5:36 till halftime. The Lady Warriors got back to back lay-ups by DeShayna Hickman, but Ruckes found space inside on the Lady Tigers’ next possession to make it 23-21. Ruckes finished with 16 points.

Howell drained two more 3-pointers with less than 3:30 left in the second quarter, helping the Lady Tigers to a 35-29 halftime lead.

The Lady Tigers had four players in double figures. Along with Ruckes and Howell, Anna Johnson scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to end with 15 and Jayla Chills added 11.

For Choctaw Central (24-8), Delanda Chickaway led with 12, and Ashland Wallance added nine.

See additional coverage at tippah360.com, nems360.com, in Sunday’s Daily Journal, and Wednesday’s Southern Sentinel.