The Lady ‘Canes finished the region tournament as the No. 2 seed as they defeated Lakeview FTO 63-39, but fell to Sonoraville 77-35.

Giving the team a big boost after an injury, head coach Cindy Moore, named Stefanie Will as the team’s driving force to making it this far.

“She had a severe ankle sprain and came off of it in the last two games of the season and gave us a spark,” said Moore.

At 5-foot-9, Will is a junior shooting guard for Cartersville, averaging 9.7 points and four steals a night. In the last three games Will has averaged 14 points, an average Moore said she would like to continue in the state playoffs.

The Lady ‘Canes only lost one game in January and Moore said Will had a lot to do with that.

“She raises the level of play for the whole team. The kids look up to her. We really missed her when she was gone,” said Moore.

Will was voted as a team captain this season by her teammates and since the beginning of the season has grown in her role.

“She has become more of a leader. She played her freshmen and sophomore year for the varsity program and her growth has shown as she has become more vocal and more of an on-court coach,” Moore said.

Moore also said Will has progressed in her scoring ability and playing both ends of the court as well.

“She is usually put on the other team’s best guard and has to perform on both ends,” said Moore.