GPS’ Brooke McCurdy (23) drives on shoots over Red Bank’s Shelby Romans (5) in first half action in the girls’ semifinal game Thursday night at Chattanooga State.Junior Brooke McCurdy is no stranger to having big 3-point shooting and scoring games in her GPS career, and Red Bank witnessed one Thursday night.
Nine of the Bruisers’ 20 field goals were from behind the arc in the second girls’ semifinal in the 12th Times Free Press Best of Preps basketball tournament at Chattanooga State. McCurdy had six of them and 27 points before sitting out the final four minutes in a 55-37 victory.
GPS (8-4) advances to tonight’s championship game at 7 against Baylor, winner of the past four Best of Preps girls’ tournaments.
Red Bank (5-4), which will play District 6-AA rival Tyner for third place today at 4, got a free throw from Mya Kennebrew to start the game’s scoring. But the Bruisers responded with back-to-back 3-pointers by McCurdy and never trailed again.
“She made her first couple and got a lot of confidence going,” GPS coach Wes Moore said. “I thought Meg Priest and J.J. Dunigan did a good job of finding her in transition. We wanted to speed the game up. They were way bigger than we were. We thought if we could get it in transition it would favor our shooters, or we could get it to the middle of the lane. Either one would be a good thing for us.”
McCurdy made two more 3-point shots in the second quarter and totaled 17 of her points in the first half, which ended with GPS up 29-16.
“We did a better job on her in the second half, but you can’t give her any space,” Red Bank coach Bailey McGinnis said. “She got away from us some.
“I was pleased that we played hard. We didn’t give up. That’s the main thing in my eyes. You’re going to have those nights when you can’t do much about one player.”
Priest had the Bruisers’ other 3-point goals – all in the third quarter – and scored 11 of her 12 points in the second half.
Kennebrew led the Lady Lions with 12 points. Teammate Layla Babb had two of their four 3-point goals and nine points.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.