GPS's Akia Harris breaks around Notre Dame's Adia Colvin during their Hoops for Hope breast-cancer-awareness basketball game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Practice didn't make GPS perfect Saturday. But something the Bruisers worked on recently in practice helped an area that had been lacking become a strength in their game against Notre Dame in Hoops for Hope VI at GPS.
Aided by numerous second shots, GPS made 17 more 2-point field goals than the Lady Irish did and won 59-42 in the Bruisers' first time hosting the high school basketball breast-cancer-awareness fundraiser.
Money raised by Hoops for Hope is donated to the MaryEllen Locher Foundation Fund, which assists local students who have had a parent stricken with breast cancer with their college tuition. To date, Hoops for Hope has provided 15 scholarships to students from participating schools. Locher Foundation administrator Cindy Pare said at least two more scholarships likely would be given out from this year's proceeds.
"Jennifer Williams has already said GPS is good to host it again next year," Pare said. "We're very excited about that."
In addition to their offensive rebounding, the Bruisers' defense also contributed mightily to their big edge in 2-point goals. Notre Dame was limited to four baskets inside the arc, and no player had more than one.
Signal Mountain's Ryan McCaffrey, right, and Michael Cate, left, fight for a rebound with Tyner's John Boyd during their Hoops for Hope breast-cancer-awareness basketball game Saturday at Girls Preparatory School."We worked all week on rebounding," Williams said. "We had not been doing that well. We had not been playing defense well. We did that today."
Still, the Lady Irish were within 32-26 after an Adia Colvin 3-point shot. But beginning with a three point-play by GPS's Gabria Hubbard at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, the Bruisers went on a 15-3 run.
After Colvin connected, Notre Dame did not have another field goal until Colvin made her sixth and final 3 right before the third-quarter buzzer. Williams credited a defensive switch that put speedy Akia Harris on her.
"They shot very well from outside," Williams said of the Lady Irish, who had a 9-2 edge in 3-point goals. "When we went to a box-and-one early in the third quarter, I thought that was a game-changer."
Harris had both of the Bruisers' 3s and was their leading scorer with 17 points. Kara Ware added 13.
Colvin's 20 points topped Notre Dame. Annie Ripper overcame a scoreless first quarter and ended with 12.
* Tyner 63, Signal Mountain 51: The only boys' game was between first-time participant Tyner and Signal Mountain's Eagles, whose coach, Steve Redman, was the initiator of Hoops for Hope when he was the Red Bank girls' coach. Tyner and Signal Mountain had regular-season games scheduled, and the Tyner teams agreed to have them moved to this date.
"Coach called me and asked if we wanted to participate in something for the MaryEllen Locher Foundation Fund, and I said, 'Coach, count me in,'" Rams coach Gerald Harris said.
The Rams took the lead for good on Daaron Maston's 3-point shot in the final minute of the first quarter and led by 14 points on two occasions -- the last at 44-30. The Eagles twice got within six in the second half and were within eight before Maston went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the last 18 seconds for the final margin.
"I thought we looked a little tired from last night," said Harris, whose team beat District 6-AA rival Howard on Friday. "We're still playing like we don't have a lot of experience. Nine kids are gone from last year's team.
"My kids played hard, but not smart at times. I thought Signal Mountain did a good job at what they do right. They kept running one particular play all night that our kids never did figure out. But a win is a win."
Kevin Cameron scored 20 points for Tyner, and Maston finished with 19.
Ryan McCaffrey's 18 points led Signal Mountain. Jack Teter contributed 17.
* Boyd-Buchanan girls 54, Red Bank 40: In the opening game, the Lady Buccaneers saw their 10-point halftime lead cut to 35-31 at the end of the third quarter, but they regrouped for a 19-9 scoring edge in the fourth.
Maddie Wright totaled 23 points for Boyd-Buchanan, which was playing without another of its top scorers, Marisa McCalla, who suffered a concussion in Friday's District 5-A victory over Arts & Sciences. The Lady Bucs are hopeful they'll have her back Thursday when they play another key district game at Silverdale Baptist Academy.
Ashley Brown had 11 points and Haley Claiborne had 10 for Red Bank, which played five players. Others were taking college-entrance exams.
* Signal Mountain girls 69, Tyner 38: In the closing game, Tyner held leads at 8-7 and 10-9 and was tied with the Lady Eagles at 12 before Signal Mountain began an 11-0 run and started taking control.
Aryn Sanders paced the Lady Eagles with 35 points. Brooke Whitmire chipped in with 19.
Porchia Turner's 13-point total was high for the Lady Rams.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.