MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Despite rallying from 23 points down in the first half to force two overtimes, Grace Academy fell to top-ranked Clarksville Academy, 82-77, in the Class A basketball state championship game today.
The Golden Eagles made two tying 3-pointers in the waning seconds, one by Corey Nelson to force overtime and one by Terrell Church to force the second extra period.
Grace took its first lead on Taylor Wilson’s 3-pointer with 3:39 left in the second overtime. The Golden Eagles built a five-point lead on Church’s 3-pointer with 3:15 left, but the Cougars outscored them 12-2 the rest of the way.
It is the third state runner-up finish for the Golden Eagles in six years.
Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Brandon Herman led all scorers with 33 points for Grace, while Mr. Basketball honoree Malcolm Smith of Clarksville Academy had 29 points and 15 rebounds.