By Steve Williams
Webb School’s girls won their see-saw battle in the TSSAA Division II-AA state championship game Saturday afternoon at the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville.
It resulted in Back2Back state champions, too, as the Lady Spartans edged Lipscomb Academy 48-47 in the closing seconds.
Coach Greg Hernandez’s Lady Spartans took an 11-8 lead in the first quarter, but found themselves trailing by 10 points after the third period.
Webb worked to even the score at 44-all, but Brooklyn Lowry’s 3-point shot put the Lady Mustangs ahead again (47-44).
The Lady Spartans forced a turnover with 52 seconds left in the game, and Webb sophomore forward Kyndall Mays then scored to cut the deficit to one (47-46) with 0:35 on the clock.
With the clock running down, Meeyah Green was forced to foul.
And then the play of the game. Green stole the ball with 12 seconds to go and went down the court and scored with six seconds remaining, giving Webb a one-point lead (48-47).
The Lady Spartans had plenty of fouls to give, and they drained the clock down to 3.3 seconds and then 1.4 seconds. Lipscomb’s last shot was in-bounded from the back court and their long shot was blocked, ending the game.
Green finished with 17 points and Mays with 12 to lead Webb, which finished with a 25-6 record.
Webb roars back to win tourney opener
The Lady Spartans fell behind by 10 points in their first quarter at the state tournament last week, but rallied in the fourth quarter for a 59-54 win over Christian Presbyterian Academy.
CPA’s lead grew to 16 points in the first two minutes of the second quarter, but Webb caught fire and rode a 13-point run in the final quarter to advance.
Sophomore forward Kyndall Mays had a strong performance in Webb’s comeback victory, as she scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Her shooting touch also was exceptional as she hit six of 10 field goals and six of six free throws.
Green scored 20 points and grabbed 12 boards, but misfired on three attempts behind the 3-point line and had five turnovers.
As a team, Webb was zero for 10 behind the arc.
Ivy Napier chipped in 10 points and Corisa Lowery seven, respectively.
Catholic boys fall in 4-overtime thriller
Catholic battled through 4-overtimes before falling to Briarcrest 75-72 Thursday in the Division II-AA semifinals.
Briarcrest outscored the Irishmen 7-4 in the final 4-minute OT period.
Catholic overcame a 15-8 first period was tied 51-all at the end of regulation.
Cade Murphy led the Irish with 23 points and eight rebounds. Travis Martin added 18 points and Malachi Brown 10.
Joshua Huggins led Briarcrest with 32 points.
Coach Travis Mains’ Irishmen ended their season with a 24-7 worksheet. Briarcrest hangs up a 30-3 record.
TKA girls bow to Providence Christian
The King’s Academy dug itself into an early hole and bowed 68-43 to Providence Christian Academy Friday.
PCA led 21-6 after the opening eight minutes and its lead widened in the fourth quarter.
Eva Birkofer scored 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead her team in the battle of Lady Lions.
Skylar Walden scored 17 points to lead TKA. Kyle Young contributed 12 points and Adit Koul seven.
TKA’s season record ends at 27-9, while PCA finishes at 26-5.
