Wekiva wraps up 9A title with 2-OT win
LAKELAND —There was nothing easy about the way Wekiva wrapped up its second girls basketball title in six years.
It took a timely shot at the end of regulation and two extra periods for the Mustangs to sneak past Miami High 45-41 in double overtime Saturday in the Class 9A championship game at Lakeland’s RP Funding Center.
Brierra Williams drained a 3-pointer from the left side with less than 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 32-32 to set the stage for an exhilarating finish. Williams missed on her first attempt from the same spot during Wekiva’s final possession before the ball swung back her way on a toss by Danesha Boles from across the court.
“I’m not even going to lie — I lost confidence in the second shot because I barely hit the rim the first time,” Williams said after sharing a tearful embrace with her parents. “But I had to shoot it again for my teammates. Our coaches preach to us to always keep going, and we did that.”
Sedayjha Payne tied the game at 35-35 during the first overtime period on a putback with one minute to play. Miami’s Darria Whitley was unable to connect on what would’ve been the game-winner from the right corner in the final seconds.
A 3-pointer by Boles to open the second overtime gave the Mustangs (26-6) the lead for good. Miami (28-6) got within 42-41 on a basket by Whitley, but free throws down the stretch from Payne and Emmy James preserved the advantage.
“We’re resilient,” James said. “We faced adversity through the whole entire season and God gave us a second chance, and we wanted to take the opportunity. We counted on [Brierra] and she hit a shot for us to spark the momentum.”
Williams, Payne and James each had 10 points for the Mustangs on a night when both teams struggled with their shooting. Payne added eight rebounds and three assists, while Myanna Garrett finished with a game-high 12 rebounds and six points.
Colleen Bucknor totaled 13 points and 11 rebounds and Shekinah Rachel had 13 points and eight rebounds for Miami.
Wekiva, state champs in 2014, trailed 8-3 before going on a 12-0 run and taking a 17-13 lead into the halftime break. But the Mustangs managed just five points in the third quarter.
Miami tied the game at 22-22 on a free throw from Rachel to start the final period. Bucknor scored on back-to-back possessions to give the Stingarees a 28-24 advantage midway through the fourth before Wekiva got baskets from James and Payne to set Williams up with a chance to extend the game.
“It wasn’t an easy win, but it defines our team,” said Wekiva coach Tommie Butts. “Our team never quits. If it’s going to take two overtimes to win, then I’ll take that any day of the week.”