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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was only fitting that on senior night, Millie Childree helped Lafayette Christian School put the finishing touches on a big home win over Griffin Christian.

Childree scored eight of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as Lafayette Christian pulled away from Griffin Christian for the 44-35 region win.

Childree is the only senior on the team, and she was recognized after the game along with the two seniors on the Lafayette Christian boys’ team.

“She played really tough,” Lafayette Christian School head coach Rene Gomez said of Childree. “That was her season high (in points).”

It was an important win as Lafayette Christian maintained a tie for the top spot in the region.

“Right now, we’re sitting in a good place,” Gomez said. “We only have one region loss, and so does Community Christian, and we play them next Thursday here. If we are able to win, we’ll get the number one seed (for the region tournament).”

In Thursday’s game, Childree and Savanna Bryant did most of the scoring with 18 points apiece.

Bryant struggled offensively in the earlier game against Griffin Christian, but she had no trouble putting the ball in the basket on Thursday.

“Last time we played this team, she only had four points coming off an ankle injury, and it was great to see her rebound like that and score well,” Gomez said of Bryant.

Lafayette Christian led 18-17 at the half, and it remained a tight game for much of the third quarter.

Leading by four, Bryant knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead to 29-22.

Griffin Christian answered with a basket, but Bryant banked in another 3-pointer, and the Lady Cougars had an eight-point cushion.

Griffin Christian closed the third quarter strong, though, to cut Lafayette Christian’s lead to 32-28.

With Childree leading the way, the Lady Cougars put it away with a dominant fourth quarter.

Childree scored her team’s first eight points in the fourth quarter, and with 3:16 to play Lafayette Christian’s lead was 40-30.

Lafayette Christian led by at least eight points the rest of the way.

Lafayette Christian only had six players available for Thursday’s game, and two of them fouled out leaving the team with only four players for the final minute.

On a team without depth, Gomez said the key will be to make sure everyone is at 100 percent for next week’s showdown with Community Christian for first place in the region.

“My goal is to keep them healthy,” Gomez said. “I’ve got a couple nursing bad ankles.”