MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The game clock nearly had expired by the time the McMinn Central High School girls’ basketball team collectively breathed a sigh of relief Thursday.
For more than three quarters, Grainger answered every run the Chargerettes made at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center, putting in jeopardy the pursuit of the state championship that eluded the Englewood team a year ago.
And then Jacobi Lynn and Jordan Wright delivered the final blows in a rematch of last year’s state semifinal.
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CLASS A
– Gibson County 70, Van Buren 66 (OT): Making their state tournament debut, the Eaglettes from Spencer led for much of the Class A quarterfinal before a late rally gave Gibson County the lead.
Van Buren’s Miss Basketball finalist Lakelyn Bouldin sent the game into overtime with a layup at the buzzer. Top-ranked Gibson County (36-0) regained the lead with a pair of free throws early in the extra period and led the rest of the way. Bouldin pulled her team back within a point with 12 seconds remaining, but Gibson County’s Erin Lannom was fouled attempting a 3-pointer and hit all three free throws to put the game away.
Bouldin, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee, finished with a game-high 28 points and 17 rebounds. Tilly Dodson added 15 points for the Eaglettes (28-5), making five of seven 3-pointers.