pressbox1.com - Westview falls one game short of title bid
Date: Saturday, March 13 2010
Westview falls one game short of title bid
By JOEY GUEST, Associate Editor pressbox1.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Lady Chargers of Westview could see Gibson County in their sights. They had held the lead since the early going and were 11 minutes and a 10-point lead away from getting one more shot at the rival Lady Pioneers for the Tennessee Class AA Championship.
But that shot whistled away – almost literally – as a barrage of late fouls and turnovers riddled Westview and saw McMinn Central outscore the Lady Chargers 30-7 down the stretch to advance to the title game against Gibson County with a 48-34 semifinal win here tonight.
The Central Chargerettes, who had visited the free-throw line once in the first half, could’ve started receiving mail there in the second half with 23 appearances at the stripe, 19 of which proved successful.
Westview, conversely, went to the line 13 times in the entire game, shooting 6-6 in the first half and 2-7 in the second.
As the fouls mounted, so did the turnovers, which Central converted for 17 points in the second half, while Westview managed just 5 points off turnovers in each half.
Central trailed 28-18 with three minutes left in the third when four Lady Charger turnovers and a missed field goal in their final five possessions allowed the Chargerettes to close out the frame with a 7-0 run to enter the final frame down 28-25.
Despite five foul calls and just three points, Westview clung to the lead until Jenna Adams’ layup with 3:42 remaining gave Central its first lead since 3-2 in the first minute of the game.
Once seizing the lead, the Chargerettes never let it from their grasp, dominating the boards and hitting 10-12 free throws down the stretch to win by 14 points.
Central improved to 32-2 on the season and will face the 34-1 defending state champions, Gibson County, at 4 p.m., Saturday. Westview, which ended its season at 27-8, will miss the chance of facing Gibson County for the fifth time this season. The Lady Chargers had lost all four previous meetings but had high hopes after falling by just seven points to the Lady Pioneers in the District 13-AA finals.
Amber Rechis closed her stellar career at Westview with 16 points in her final game, while fellow senior standout Grace Ann Swaim battled through injuries to tally 13 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.
Jenna Adams was dominating for the Chargerettes with 18 points, 14 boards and three blocked shots. Madison Lee added 11 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
Central (48) – Jenna Adams 18, Madison Lee 11, Laura Purkey 9, Elizabeth Massengil 5, Madison Williams 3, Kalyn Wiley 2. Westview (34) – Amber Rechis 16, Grace Ann Swaim 13, Sara Olds 3, Megan Ables 2. 3-pointers: Central – Williams. Westview – Olds, Rechis.
Westview's Sara Olds (center) drives through Jenna Adams (left) and Laura Purkey (right).
*Note: Click here to see all photos and/or purchase prints: http://jguest1.dotphoto.com Grace Ann Swaim watches her free-throw attempt sail toward the basket.
Enthusiastic Westview fans were in full force for the state semifinal game.
Westview's Breanna Pitcher goes in for a layup past Central's Elizabeth Massengil.
Jacey Sims (No. 10) fires a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
A broken nose and black eye couldn't stop Grace Ann Swaim.
*Note: Click here to see all photos and/or purchase prints: http://jguest1.dotphoto.com Jacey Sims pump-fakes before going up against the tall Central post players.
Battered and bruised, Grace Ann Swaim (left) continued to battle hard against Central.
Grace Ann Swaim weaves her way past midcourt to beat Central's press defense.
Jacey Sims (No. 10) fights to maintain possession against Central's trap defense.
Westview fans react in disbelief at an official's call in the fourth period.
*Note: Click here to see all photos and/or purchase prints: http://jguest1.dotphoto.com Lady Charger coach Sean Stephenson shouts instructions as Amber Rechis prepares to inbounds the ball.
Amber Rechis (No. 25) fires a free throw while Taylor Swaim looks on.
Grace Ann Swaim tries to beat the double team of Central's Madison Lee (No. 20) and Jenna Adams (No. 11).
Amber Rechis (No. 25) tries to drive past Central's Madison Williams (No. 14) in the waning moments of the TSSAA state semifinals.
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