MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After trailing by as much as 10 in the second half, top-ranked McMinn Central shut down Westview in the final 5:48 and pulled away for a 48-34 victory in the semifinals of the Class AA girls’ state basketball tournament.
The Chargerettes will play third-ranked Gibson County in the championship Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Westview led by 10 with 2:48 left in the third, but during a 16-second span, McMinn Central’s Madison Lee grabbed two steals that led to five quick points and cut the deficit to three. Lee converted the first steal into a three-point play and the second into a short jumper to spark the rally.
Lee was called for her fourth personal foul with 5:19 remaining in the game, but Westview’s Amber Rechis was whistled for a technical on the same play.
That resulted in two made free throws by Lee, which started a 16-0 run that wasn’t snapped until Westview’s Sara Olds hit a 3-pointer with 33 seconds remaining. But by that point McMinn Central led by 11.
Jenna Adams finished with 16 points for the Chargerettes.
For complete coverage of the McMinn Central’s win, read Saturday’s Times Free Press Sports section.