Tharptown falls just short

J.R. Tidwell/FCT
Tharptown’s Kassy Baker (5) moves the ball up the court in a game played earlier this season. Baker had 6 points for the Lady Wildcats.

Bart Moss

For the FCT

THARPTOWN — On a night it was raining threes early and often, it was a simple but well-executed backdoor cut and layup that cost the Tharptown Wildcats a second-straight trip to the Northwest Regionals.

The Wildcats took a 51-50 lead with less than forty seconds to go in the game on a Kamri Sears layup.

The Flame went into a half court offense passing the ball around patiently before hitting the game winning layup with twelve seconds remaining in the game.

“That was a tough loss,” said Tharptown coach Chad Green.  “Both teams played well tonight. We gave it our best effort.”

“I’m so proud of the effort these girls have given this year.  They have had a lot of success on the court and they are great kids off the court. It’s just tough to have it end this way.”

Tharptown jumped out to an 11-7 first quarter lead and closed out the first half with a 27-24 lead.

Both teams hit five three point shots in the first half.  It was a series of three’s by Tharptown sophomore Brooke Daniel that would give the Wildcats their biggest lead of the night 24-15.  Junior Danielle Creasy and eighth-grader Jessica Wilson also hit three’s in the first half for Tharptown.

Things shifted in Shoals Christian’s direction in the second half. The Flame outscored the Wildcats 18-17 in the third quarter to trim Tharptown’s lead to 44-41.  In the final quarter of play the Flame outscored the Wildcats 12-7.

Brooke Daniel was the Tharptown’s leading scorer with 14 points.  Kamri Sears added 13 points. Others scoring for the Wildcats were Danielle Creasy (9), Kassy Baker (6), Kaitlyn Vandiver (6), and Jessica Wilson (3).

Shoals Christian’s Lacey Lindley led all scorers with 25 points and Grace Matthews added 11 points.