DIXONS MILLS — Marengo (14-2) clinched a berth in the South Regional with a 58-35 win over visiting Fruitdale Thursday.

“It’s a great honor and privilege for our girls to get there,” Marengo coach John Agee said. “We’ve been having great teams here for a long time and it finally all came together this year.”

Agee struggled to recall the last time a Marengo team played its way all the way through the sub-regional round, citing 2004 as the year that stuck out in his mind to mark that accomplishment.

His team left little to chance Thursday, dominating on the glass at both ends of the floor and playing stifling defense to pull away from Fruitdale early.

After the first quarter of play Marengo led 11-5, stretching its lead to 28-15 by half. Marengo posted 15 points in each of the game’s final two quarters to leave Fruitdale squarely in the rearview and set it sights on next week’s trip to the University of South Alabama.

“I just told the girls to go out and be the best team we can be,” Agee said of his team’s gameplan.

Tallamachiia Dumas led all scorers with 18 points to go along with 26 rebounds on the night. Ciera Hudson chipped in 10 while LaShay Price scored nine and Cassandra Thomas added eight.

Beneather Manuel topped Fruitdale’s points column with 13 in the game while Tosha Boykins finished with 10.

“Fewer turnovers,” Agee said of his team’s focus over the next week as it prepares for regional play. “More fundamentals. We’ve got to get back in the gym and get a little more focused.”