SPRING GARDEN - Spring Garden basketball coach Ricky Austin said up until Saturday's Class 1A, Area 10 tournament championship game against Cedar Bluff that freshman point guard Madison Sides was known as former point guard Jordan Sides' little sister.

Following the younger Sides' performance on Saturday, Austin amended that statement.

"Tonight she turned into Madison Sides, Spring Garden's point guard," Austin said. "She handled the press and got us into our stuff. She was a very good point guard tonight."

Sides came away with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, to go along with nine rebounds, two assists and a steal in leading the Lady Panthers to a 65-39 victory that clinched their first area championship in two years. Sides was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

"She's trying teach me everything she knows, and I'm just trying to take what she gives me and go with it," they younger Sides said of her older sister. "I think we owe this win all to Coach Rat (Austin). He prepared us mentally and physically for this game we had tonight, and my teammates just helped me succeed."

The Lady Panthers' (17-12) reward for the victory is a sub-regional home game against Area 9 runner-up Parkway Christian (8-14) on Thursday.

Cedar Bluff (14-15) also advances to sub-regional play. The Lady Tigers will travel to Area 9 champion Appalachian (14-9), also on Thursday.

Appalachian defeated Parkway Christian 48-45 in other area championship action on Saturday.

Austin said defense was the focus for the Lady Panthers against Cedar Bluff, and they delivered.

"Our defense was very good tonight," he said. "You've got to give Coach Dana (Austin) credit tonight for their defensive assignments. She worked on their defense today and all this week. She had them ready, and everybody knew what was going on."

Cedar Bluff managed to hold an 8-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter, but then the Lady Panthers went on a 21-7 run to take a 28-15 lead at halftime.

Spring Garden continued to put the pressure on Cedar Bluff, going on a 25-12 run in the third to lead 46-27 heading into the final quarter.

"They just beat us in all phases of the game," Cedar Bluff coach Joe Carpenter said.

Emory Reedy added 12 points, four boards, three assists and a steal for the Lady Panthers. Tykeah Leek contributed nine points, eight rebounds, a steal and an assist. Darian Gaines also had nine points. Tori Pierce tallied eight points, and Haley Motes finished with six points, 11 rebounds and two assists.

Leek and Reedy joined Sides on the all-tournament team.

"I think they showed up a little hungry tonight," Austin said. "Emory Reedy played well. Tykeah played four quarters, and that's probably the best I've seen Tykeah play. She was so in control and so focused. Haley Motes had a great defensive game. She had 11 rebounds and that was big. Auburn Kirk came off the bench and gave us a spark, and Darian Gaines hit a big three that really got us going.

"Something's flipped lately with them. Evidently, they've got a purpose now, and it's a great time for them to have it. I told them after the game they showed me something tonight that I haven't seen in a while. It was fun to watch them carry out our game plan, and that made me have a flashback of some of my past teams. That was Spring Garden girls basketball tonight, and it's a great time to see it."

Katie McGinnis led Cedar Bluff with 12 points. Audrianna Hargitt added 11 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals. Hannah Leach had six points and Delilah Price finished with five points and two steals.

McGinnis and Hargitt were named to the all-tournament team. Kiana Ford represented Collinsville and Lauren Hammett was selected from Gaylesville.