Melrose proud of first state tournament in 17 years
Nolensville's size advantage was too much for Melrose as the Golden Wildcats fell 59-44 in the Class AA girls basketball quarterfinals on Thursday at MTSU'S Murphy Center.
Zoe Piller, a 6-foot junior, posed match-up problems inside and scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting. She is the daughter of former Titans lineman Zach Piller. Grace Baird, a 5-foot-11 guard, added 16.
"They're very quick so I feel like Zoe and Sydney (Mickulin) both had advantages inside," Baird said. "We missed her a couple times and she still had 20 points. And if that wasn't there, the kickouts were.”
The loss came in Melrose's first state tournament appearance since 2003. Second-year coach Ciara Johnson said she felt the team was nervous and feeling jitters.
"It's different. It's different from a city championship, a district or a substate. Well, similar, but it is different," Johnson said. "You get the bright lights and the big stage and local fans coming out that's more than your fans that's traveling form three-and-a-half hours away"
The Golden Wildcats (30-6) went 19-8 last year in their first season under Johnson after posting losing seasons the previous two years.
"It means everything because my ninth-grade year we never made it this far," guard Janiya Carlton said. "We always lost by 30 points, 40 points and to make it this far is surprising.”
Melrose, whose tallest player is 5foot-10 Skylar Johnson, was outrebounded 44-29 and shot just 30 percent from the field.
"We were able to take advantage of their size a little bit inside but they're a great team and a tough opponent,” Nolensville coach Chris Ladd said.
Chara Ferguson led Melrose with 13 points and hit a pair of threes. The team was 6-of-29 from the 3-point line.
"We actually tried to play their game, trying to shoot threes," Johnson said. "That's not our game. Our game is defense, getting steals, making them turn, trapping and reading the passing lane. I feel like we didn't do a good job tonight.”
Nolensville (28-4) will play the winner of Macon County vs. Maplewood in the semifinals Friday at 2:45 p.m. in the semifinals.