MONTGOMERY &045; If you can’t crank your car up, you probably won’t get too far. If you get going a little, but sputter along the way, you won’t get far, as well.

The Demopolis Lady Tigers never got their engines going in its regional contest yesterday at Alabama State’s Joe L. Reed Acudome against the Jess Lanier Purple Tigers, last year’s regional champs. They never got out of first gear, as they fall out of the tournament losing, 55-37.

The Lady Tigers hit only four of 13 attempts from the free throw line in the first half.

The score was not indicative of how the game was played. The game wasn’t pretty as both teams mounted 58 turnovers for the game. Also, both teams also shot under 39 percent.

The Demopolis defense has been its trademark all season. Yesterday it was good, but not good enough.

Lanier’s LaQuita Burrough had her way inside. The big 6-1 junior was able to get the ball inside and took advantage of her size to score or draw a foul. She finished the game with 27 points, 13 in the second, and played all 32 minutes.

The first quarter of the game found both teams trying to fins the basket. They each hit just three of 10 shots from the floor in the quarter, but the Purple Tigers led 7-6 after the first eight minutes of play.

The Lady Tigers committed 12 turnovers in the second quarter to allow Lanier scoring opportunities, including dropping eight of nine from the free throw stripe.

Demopolis also had trouble getting a shot of in the quarter, as well. They attempted just six attempts from the floor allowing the Purple Tigers to take a 25-18 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Lady Tigers would get within three points half way through the third quarter, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the game.

Jasmine Simmons topped Demopolis with seven points. Valisa Sams, Jasmine Hardy, and Shay Smith finished with six points each.

Demopolis closes its season with a 22-5 record. They will return four of its starters next year. They will also return the entire team except the lone senior, Kiarra Plasket.