pressbox1.com - Gibson County claws back for 2nd state title
Date: Saturday, March 13 2010
Gibson County claws back for 2nd state title
By JIM STEELE, Editor pressbox1.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Things looked bleak for defending state champion Gibson County in the Class 2A finals Saturday at Middle Tennessee State University.
State-tourney veteran McMinn Central had handcuffed the Lady Pioneers and taken a 19-point lead early in the third frame. But Gibson County came roaring back with 40 second-half points to claim a 63-60 victory over the Chargerettes and earn their second straight state championship.
For veteran coach David Russell, this was his sixth state title but his first with Gibson County. He coached Bradford to state championships in 1982, 1993 and 1996 through 1998. Last year, he was assistant to Kevin McMillan at Gibson Co. when the Lady Pioneers won the championship. Russell ranks in the top 15 nationally in victories among girls' high school coaches. Russell, as a girls' coach, has a record of 851-164.
Heather Butler was tournament MVP and her 91 points in the three games sets a state tournament record. She broke the mark set by Melrose's Stella Cannon who scored 87 points back in 1985. Heather Griffin, Courtney Haynes and Aubrey Reedy each earned all-tournament honors, as did Westview's Amber Rechis and Grace Ann Swaim. Laura Purkey, Jenna Adams and Elizabeth Massengil were named to the all-tournament team from McMinn Central.
McMinn Central seemingly had no trouble dealing with the Gibson County pressure, had the hot hand shooting and outrebounded the Lady Pioneers in the first half. GC was 9-31 shooting in the first half and only managed six offensive rebounds. McMinn limited the Lady Pioneers to just 15 first-half rebounds and more than doubled them on the defensive glass.
It was a tough start for the defending champs, who watched a close game turn into a nightmare by early in the third frame. Gibson County started strong with a 10-2 run to start the game, but McMinn began its slow burn to the lead, outcoring 16-6 to the buzzer.
The Lady Pioneers drew as close as one, 22-21, with 6:57 to play in the second quarter, but McMinn, led by Adams, Massengil and Jenna Lee, lifted the Chargerettes to a 34-23 lead at halftime. Things started to deteriorate for Gibson County quickly as the second half started. McMinn Central went on a 10-2 run to start the third and things took on the appearance of a laugher. GC trailed 44-25 with 5:58 to play.
What happened next was perhaps one the most exciting comebacks in state finals history. Second-half turnovers played a role. Gibson County coughed it up just four times in the final 16 minutes and yielded no points. Meanwhile, all eight of McMinn's turnovers resulted in 16 GC points. Also, the Lady Pioneers were perfect from the free throw line. They were 13-13 for the game, 11-11 in the second half. McMinn also was perfect, but made just two trips to the line, both in the first half.
Butler's triple with :20 to play in the third cut McMinn's lead to one, 50-49, ending a 25-6 run. The fun was just beginning. Butler's three-point play catapulted Gibson Co. in front 54-52. Haynes triple gave GC the lead for good, 57-54, with 6:36 to play. Three more times, McMinn cut the lead to one, but Griffin's freebies with :15 to play salted it away.
Lee fired up a triple with :04 to play, but missed. Griffin gathered the rebound and held on until the horn sounded, signaling GC's second straight state crown.
Butler led the Lady Pioneers with 28. Heather Griffin scored 14 and Courtney Haynes had 12.
Adams led McMinn with 21 points, Lee scored 12 while Massengil and Purkey each had 10.
McMinn ends its season with a 32-4 mark. Gibson County finishes at 35-1.
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