Story and Photos by Noah McKay
MURFREESBORO – The Van Buren County County Eagelettes earned a runner-up finish in the TSSAA Class A State Championship Game in a 49-46 loss to Greenfield on Saturday at the Murphy Center.
The Eaglettes led for over 21 minutes of regulation, but a fast start to the fourth quarter by the Lady Jackets along with a late steal and score took down VBCHS in their first state championship game appearance in school history.
“That’s how it happens sometimes,” said VBCHS head coach Tyler Sapp. “All 16 that we’ve got trust each other, love each other and I think that’s why you see (this run). This is the most fun team I’ve ever had. They’re good people. They’re fun to be around. They do their work, do their job and play basketball.”
The Eaglettes showed few signs of nerves early. Each team made buckets early in the first quarter, Cara Mills scored four points early to keep a VBCHS deficit to 9-8. Sophomore Abigail Netherton hit a deep two, then a cutting layup and Mills hit a shot to make it 14-9. The Lady Jackets hit a three with five seconds left, but Netherton answered with a shot from halfcourt to give the Eaglettes a 17-12 lead after one.
The teams traded threes early in the second, with Netherton hitting two free throws to stretch the lead to seven. The Lady Jackets answered, cutting the deficit to two late in the quarter, but a midrange jumper by Netherton gave the Eaglettes a 29-25 halftime lead.
The teams again traded buckets throughout the third quarter. A GHS three tied the game with 2:47 to play in the quarter. Again Netherton made a runner late in the frame to make it 37-35 at the end of the third.
Greenfield opened the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, prompting a timeout by Sapp as they trailed 41-37.
Netherton and Mills answered with buckets to tie the game before a bucket regained a Greenfield lead into the TV timeout. Ellie Grissom answered out of the break with a corner three to give VBCHS a 44-43 lead with 2:25 to play. A steal and score by Greenfield gave them a 47-46 lead with 54 seconds to play. They then forced a 10-second violation and converted two free throws to stretch the lead to three.
A contested Netherton three at the buzzer missed and the Lady Jackets secured the state championship.
“They jumped on us with the pressure there and we didn’t handle it as well as we needed to,” said Sapp. “That 10-second call is 100% my fault.”
Netherton led the game with 20 points while adding five assists. Mills scored 17 points with 13 rebounds, her third double-double of the tournament. Laura Gammon scored four points and seven rebounds. Grissom tallied two while Emma Gammon scored two points with six rebounds.
The Eaglettes roster features zero seniors. They made their fourth state tournament in school history and third in the last four seasons. All of their wins in the tournament in school history have come under Sapp.
“We lose nobody,” said Sapp. “You never know what can happen. I feel like it was good experience for us and I feel like we’ll be attempting to do this again next year. I’m super excited to have another run with them.”
