SBEC girls tripped up in Div. 2-A semifinals.
NASHVILLE — The Southern Baptist Educational Center girls basketball team did plenty right in its Division 2-A state semifinal game Friday at Allen Arena. But one bad stretch was enough to end the Trojans’ run.
Two-time Miss Basketball finalists Derica Wyatt and Kennedi Bell, a talented 6-1 sophomore, each scored 21 points as Franklin Road Academy eliminated the Trojans, 6753. SBEC, which was making its first appearance at state since 2008, ends the year with a 25-8 record.
“Last year we finished fifth in the region, so to get to the final four shows that we’ve made some great strides,” said Trojans coach Barry Gray.
Indeed, the Trojans battled FRA (29-3) on even terms for much of the game. SBEC shot 51.2 percent and the rebounding battle was practically even with FRA winning, 25-24.
SBEC took its first lead early in the third quarter when Kimberlee Keltner scored inside to make it 33-32.
But that just seemed to wake up the Panthers, who went on to score 16 of the next 17 points. Kayleigh Patterson hit a 3-poitner for the Trojans just before the third-quarter buzzer but the damage had been done as FRA led 49-37.
“They stepped up their defense,” said Gray. “I think we got a little disconnect and our energy kind of went. That stretch decided the ballgame.”
The Trojans lived up to their scrappy reputation, though. and got to within seven at one point in the fourth. But FRA made enough plays down the stretch to pull away.
“We never give up,” said Patterson, who will play soccer at Union next season.
Added Keltner, “We just kept going and never got our heads down.”
Keltner had a terrific game inside for the Trojans, scoring 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting and pulling down 10 rebounds. Patterson also scored 17 in her final high school game but no other Trojan reached double figures.