OAKLAND — Top-seeded Southern continued its region title defense, romping No. 5 seed Mountain Ridge, 74-35, in the Class 1A West Region I semifinals on Tuesday at Ram Arena.
The Rams (18-5), who pushed their winning streak to seven games, will host No. 2 seed Allegany (16-6) in the region finals on Thursday at 6 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s title bout.
Southern has won the last two region titles, runs that ended with state runner-up finishes.
Against Mountain Ridge, Southern continued its hot shooting of late, burying 11 3-pointers and scoring at least 19 points in each of the first three periods.
The Rams led 20-10 after the first quarter, 40-19 at the half and 59-24 going into the fourth.
Southern’s Emelee Parks, a West Virginia Wesleyan signee, crossed the career 1,000-point threshold with her 28th point. She finished with 29, one of three Rams in double figures along with Jayden Weaver (13) and Joycelyn Ward (12). Kelsey Ward chipped in eight.
Parks and Weaver made four 3-pointers each, and Amelia Alvarez sunk two in the fourth quarter.
Mountain Ridge (11-13) was led by Taylor Lamberson’s 13 points, and Kealana Pua’auli added eight.