After leading the entire first half Friday, Grace Academy trailed more of the second half against Arts & Sciences than it led in the first semifinal in the District 5-A high school basketball tournament at Chattanooga State.
But although the Lady Golden Eagles spent most of the stretch from midway through the third quarter until late in the fourth behind, they were never more than two possessions away from tying it.
Maggie Compton helped close the deficit by making two 3-point goals in the final 1:30, and Sierra Nunley’s three-point play with 17.2 seconds to go gave Grace the lead for good on the way to a 53-50 victory.
Grace (10-13) will play Silverdale Baptist Academy in tonight’s championship game at 6:30. The boys’ championship will follow.
Erika Goodman followed the first of Compton’s late 3s with a steal in the backcourt she converted into a layup that tied the game at 45. Grace coach Les Compton said besides the obvious key plays his team executed late, there were subtle ones, too, like Emily Gill poking a ball free around midcourt that led to an extra possession.