Chargers Storm Through Hurricanes

 

 

Last week the defending state champs were knocked out of the playoffs and tonight the runner-up lost in the Elite 8. Clear Springs used their quickness and applied the pressure ”springs brings” every time they step on the court as they defeated Hightower 77-67. If you recall earlier in the season I called Springs a sleeper, well after tonight’s performance the remaining six teams better take notice because Springs may be on the verge of a trip to Austin.

If you go back to my preview, I said “Brooke McCarty is one of the top freshmen in the country and the addition of her and Courtney Latham have made a good team great this season” I also said “Aaliyah Brown is a gifted athlete that can go off on anyone while Joanne Lira’s BBIQ is second to none”. The first quarter ended with Springs up 28-12, Brown was on fire with 3 of Springs five threes, while McCarty and Latham had 10 between them.

Hightower chipped away at the lead in the second quarter behind Alaina Heard and Jasmine Prophet’s scoring as they went into the half down 44-33, Springs Maleka Loydrake’s two baskets came at the right time to keep the lead at double digits. The third quarter opened with the Canes going on a 7-0 run and outscoring the Chargers 24-10.  Heard’s 6 points and 5 each from Prophet and Tyler Gilbert gave the Hurricanes a three point lead going into the home stretch, Latham accounted for 8 of the 10 points and it appeared Springs had sprung a leak.

This was almost like three games in one, Clear Springs jumping out early by forcing turnovers, Hightower returning the favor in the third quarter but the final quarter is what really mattered as both teams were in the bonus. Clear Springs recaptured the lead and a 6-0 run was capped by a Lira floater, while  McCarty was ice down the stretch as she made 8 free throws in the final minutes. The Hurricanes season comes to an end and for seniors Raven Lane and Brit Matthew, this has got to be hard however I have truly enjoyed watching these young ladies evolve during their careers. Prophet led the Canes with 17, followed by Heard with 11 and Gilbert and Tanelle Williams added 11.

 

 

“The Chosen One” led all scorers with 23 points, followed by Latham with 17 and Brown with 13. They will face the winner of the Elsik vs Cy Woods game. I think I gave a pretty accurate preview and Clear Springs did exactly what I said they had to do to win. This team is very young, only two seniors, and when you think about them winning a game like this against a team like Hightower, they have got be elated and rightfully so.