Lake City's Alisha Graham cannot get past the defense of Dreher's Janai Wiggins. With Tequila McNeal's 18 points leading the way, Dreher withstood Lake City's fourth quarter rally to advance to the 3A state quarterfinals with a 43- 38 home victory on Thursday, February 19. Alisha Graham brought Lake City back and scored 22 points for the Lady Panthers, but it was not enough to keep Dreher from moving on.

Graham dominated the first quarter in an amazing display of offensive patience. Content to pass the ball around the perimeter until an open shot was available, Lake City took minutes off the clock throughout the first. Graham scored nine points on calm outside shots and hyperkinetic drives to the hoop. In response, six different Dreher players scored in the first leaving the score 11- 11 after one.

McNeal opened the second quarter with a quick burst of four points on fast break lay ups. After those early points, neither team made a single basket for the rest of the first half. Dreher managed two Emily Newton free throws and Lake City added six free throws of their own to keep the scored leveled at 17 at halftime.

The third quarter was a much more offensively minded quarter, particularly for Dreher. After Lake City took an early 20- 19 lead on a Shanice Cooper three- pointer, Dreher rattled off an 8- 0 run to take a firm lead. McNeal poured in 11 points in the quarter, largely on fast break lay ups after steals by Newton. With all the momentum and crowd excitement swelling, Dreher entered the fourth quarter leading 36- 26.

Instead of carrying momentum over from the third, Dreher allowed an immediate 8- 0 run by Lake City to start the fourth quarter. With 3:30 to play, Dreher led by just two points. But two huge blocks by Lauren Dreher kept the Blue Devils in the lead as the clock wound down.

Graham brought the Lady Panthers within two points with just 1:30 left, but free throws by McNeal, Newton, and Shakeina Smith were just enough to earn Dreher a home game in the state quarterfinals against Wilson on February 23.