MONTGOMERY&045;Kyser Youngblood came off the Morgan bench and scored nine points to help lead the Lady Senators past Macon-East, 48-45, Friday afternoon in the AISA State Tournament Regionals at Faulkner College.

In a fairly low-scoring game, Youngblood’s lift off the bench might have been the difference as the Lady Senators advanced to the AISA Final Four once again.

Youngblood was Morgan’s second-leading scorer.

Katie Taylor added 13 points in the winning effort. Ginger Gaines and Elizabeth Elliott added eight points each as Morgan won a slug-fest.

Aston Hibbs and Beth Ferrer had nine each for Macon-East.

Katie Ferrer added eight.

The teams got off to a snail’s pace in a defensive ball game.

Morgan led 7-3 after a quarter of play.

With Hibbs working the paint, Macon-East battled back in the second quarter, forcing Blevins to change his strategy.

Morgan led 21-17 at the half and they had a couple of chances in the second half to put the game away.

In the end it may have been simply Morgan’s experience in the big games.

This is the Lady Senators’ fourth straight appearance in the regionals while Macon-East made their first.

Macon-East played mostly freshmen and sophomores, but Blevins pointed out he’s got a young squad, too.

Morgan led by five points after three quarters but B. Ferrer got hot, scoring six points in the final frame.

Macon-East cut the final margin to three, but Morgan held on and advanced.

Candice Ward added five points for Morgan and Laura-Whitney Bennett had four.

Cursey Oaks added a single point.

The AISA 3A Final Four will be February 20-21.