The Central High School varsity girls basketball team will play in the 2A Area 6 tournament final at Luverne at 5 p.m. Monday following their 47-44 win over Calhoun in the area tournament Friday.

This contest was close all the way.

Calhoun jumped out to a 7-1 lead early, but the first period ended with an 11-11 tie. Central led 21-16 at the half and 34-28 at the end of the third period. Calhoun fought back to 43-38 lead in the fourth, but couldn’t hold off the Lady Lions, and the score was tied at 43-43 with about two minutes left in the game. But the Lady Lions did damage to the Lady Tigers at the free throw line and pulled out the win 47-44.

Jakaya Lambert led Calhoun with 12 points, while Kendreuna McPherson was a star for Central with 26 points.

Calhoun head basketball coach Eddie Howard said he knew Friday’s contest would be hard because his Lady Tigers were playing their cross county rivals the Lady Lions of Central.

“We just had a breakdown, too many turnovers at the end,” Howard said.

Central head basketball coach Trent Woodley said his team played well and did not give up. “We talk about playing four quarters, and often to win a game you have to play four quarters and I think they (his girls) did that today.”

The Lady Lions will play Luverne for the area tournament title.