Chargerettes edge champs

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Concluding a torrid second half, the contrast at the free-throw line in the final three minutes lifted top-ranked McMinn Central past defending champion Austin-East 61-59 in the Class AA girls’ basketball state tournament Thursday.

There had been seven ties and 15 lead changes in the second half of the quarterfinal game at Middle Tennessee State University before the Chargerettes claimed the win by making seven of 10 free throws in the final 1:53. Austin-East hit just two of seven in the final three minutes.

“To start this season, we were pretty bad from the free-throw line,” McMinn Central coach Johnny Morgan said. “I don’t know why, because we had girls that had been 80 percent free-throw shooters that couldn’t make one. But we got over that, and lately we have been very accurate.

“Any of our girls that go to the line, no matter when it is in the game, I expect them to make their free throws.”

McMinn Central (32-2) has won 21 consecutive games and will face seventh-ranked Marshall County (30-4) in today’s semifinals at 6:30 p.m. EST.

The Chargerettes led Austin-East by seven points in the second quarter but trailed by one at halftime after failing to make a field goal in the final 5:36.

Both teams shot less than 40 percent in the first half but heated up in the second half, combining for eight 3-pointers, 45 points and nine lead changes in the third quarter. The Chargerettes made 61 percent of their second-half field-goal tries and Austin-East made 56 percent, including five of six 3-pointers in the third.

The Lady Roadrunners missed all three long-range attempts in the fourth, however, including Shy Marsh’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer.

“I was wondering if they were ever going to miss there for a while,” Chargerettes junior Kylie Lambert said. “Their pressure was frustrating, and it was also frustrating that every time we got some momentum they would hit a 3.

“That third quarter was hectic. We got out of control a little bit. I think there were a lot of nerves for our underclassmen who hadn’t played here before.”

After Austin-East closed the third quarter with six consecutive points, all coming off steals,to lead by two going into the fourth, Lambert was called for her fourth foul with 6:45 remaining in the game. But as McMinn Central fell behind by three, Lambert sat for less than one minute.

Her return sparked two quick baskets, but the Lady Roadrunners — who forced 24 turnovers, including 18 steals — regained a three-point lead midway through the fourth. They missed their chance to extend it by missing three consecutive free throws.

“Free throws are definitely something we stress, especially at this point in the season,” Austin-East coach Eric Brabson said. “They can decide close games, like they did this one. We just didn’t do the small things it takes to win a close game like this.”

Lambert finished with 20 points, six after her fourth foul. She was one of five Chargerettes whose free throws contributed to an 11-6 closing surge.