HOT SPRINGS — CLASS 3A GIRLS
Charleston's Class 3A girls championship victory over Valley Springs wasn't perfect basketball, but it was plenty memorable.
Charleston Coach Jason Rucker certainly won't ever forget it.
"Winning a state title is every coach's dream," Rucker said. "This is my first year here at Charleston and I will never top this."
There were more sputters than spurts on both sides, but Charleston (27-6) eked out a 41-40 victory at Summit Arena in the first of 14 state championship games to be played over a threeday span.
The game wasn't decided until Charleston's Ashley Smithson intercepted a long pass from Valley Springs' Arielle Saunders in the final seconds.
"We just couldn't quite get over the hump all game," Valley Springs Coach Kimberly Jerkins said. "Charleston stepped up and made some big shots, and we're awfully young."
Valley Springs shot 18 percent from three-point range and 62 percent from the free-throw line. Saunders scored 12 points and had eight rebounds while Hayley Scott had 10 points. Westin Taylor had 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting, including 0 for 4 from three-point range.
Valley Springs (37-6) trailed 13-12 at halftime and 22-21 entering the fourth quarter before back-toback baskets by Scott gave Valley Springs a 25-22 lead.
Charleston regained the lead after a four-point play by Ashley Storey, who was fouled after making a three-pointer from the right side. Storey's free throw made it 26-25.
Charleston's lead grew to 29-25 when Smithson hit a threepoint basket from the left wing with 4:49 to play.
That lead did not last long. Smithson fouled Scott on a three-point attempt and Scott made 1 of 3 free throws. Valley Springs kept the ball when Taylor got the rebound and the possession ended with two free throws by Saunders and a 29-28 Charleston lead.
Valley Springs applied fullcourt pressure and it paid dividends when Kayla Carlton stole the ball. Taylor was fouled hard after a pass from Carlton and remained on the floor for several minutes before limping to the line. She made 1 of 2 to tie the game at 29. Charleston retook the lead 31-29 on a layup by Saunders with 3:50 to play.
Fouls, turnovers and free throws were exchanged until Scott's three-pointer from deep in the left corner gave Valley Springs a 36-35 lead with 1:43 to play and set the stage for an action-filled run to the buzzer.
Kaetlyn Haynes made two free throws after being fouled by Saunders, giving Charleston a 37-36 lead with 1:28 remaining. A turnover by Klancey McElroy and a foul by Carlton sent Charleston's Jordan McCann to the line. Mc-Cann made 1 of 2 to put Charleston up 38-36 with 1:15 left.
"In the fourth quarter I think our girls stopped worrying about the moment they were in and just started playing," Rucker said.
Charleston had a chance to pad its lead when Story stole the ball from Saunders, who mishandled an entry pass. But Charleston was unable to advance the ball past half-court and was whistled for a 10-second violation with 44 seconds left.
Charleston got the ball back after Taylor was tied up by Smithson with 30 seconds to play with the possession arrow favoring Charleston. Haynes was fouled by Scott with 21 seconds to play, but the Lady Tigers could not seal the victory. Haynes missed the first and made the second to make the score 39-36.
Valley Springs made it 39-38when Carlton was fouled and made both free throws after a length-of-the-court drive.
Charleston built its lead to 41-38 with 12 seconds to play when Chelsea Moore made two free throws after being fouled by Scott.
Valley Springs could not stop the clock with a timeout, but Kayla Moore hurried downcourt and put up a contested shot. Saunders scored on a putback with three seconds to play. Valley Springs fouled McCann on the inbounds pass and got the ball back after two missed free throws, but time expired before the Lady Tigers could get off a game-winning shot attempt.
"It would've been nice to have had a timeout to draw something up and at least get a shot at it," Jenkins said.
Sports, Pages 24 on 03/13/2009