With 1:29 left to go in the first half of the girls’ AA state tournament quarterfinal game between Westview and East Nashville, the Eagle’s Tayla McGee cut through the lane and connected on a layup that cut the Charger lead down to six. For the last 89 seconds of the first half, Westview would go on a run that would set the tone for the second half before it even began. The half ended with a Halle Trevathan physical layup plus a free throw, an Ashlee Brent breakaway layup, and then the Murphy Center sounded like a home game for the Chargers after McCall Sims nailed a three pointer at the buzzer from more than 30 feet away to end the half on an 8-0 run.
Coming into tonight, the pick and roll would be a key factor of the game plan for Westview against an aggressive East Nashville team on defense. “They were very obvious in how they were going to guard it… we knew they were gonna jam and almost trap, so we knew the slips were gonna be there,” mentions Westview coach Brian Haskins on why the team was able to find cuts to the rim. The Chargers would finish the night with nine total assists, with Brent and Sims finishing with four apiece.
With all of the attention on the dynamic duo of Gray and Sims, Alexis Evans would finish the ball game with 11 points and six rebounds. Brent would be everywhere on the floor as well. She only finished with five points, but she would add three
rebounds, three steals, and those for assists. “It’s her ability to get downhill… and she took advantage of the open lanes,” coach Haskins on the impact of Brent off the bench.
Senior Maddie Gray would be the driving force on offense the entire night for Westview, finishing with 19 points on 8-12 shooting from the field. “Being on both sides I’ve experienced loss in the first round, and I’ve experienced a win in the first round. I like this side better,” said Gray tonight after Westview’s 48-30 win over East Nashville.
All in all, the Westview defense racked up eight steals while forcing 17 turnovers compared to their eight. The Chargers would also outrebound the Eagles on the offensive glass 12-18. The two teams tied on total rebounds at 28 apiece as well.
Westview will get a rematch in the semifinals on Friday at 12:45 against the team that put them out of the tournament last year, the Loretto Lady Mustangs. The Chargers fell in the quarterfinals last year to the Mustangs 54-49, but the only motivation they need this time around from coach Haskins came after a sluggish practice earlier this year, “I’m not picking you up off the Murphy Center floor after the first round this year.
Coverage of Westview vs. Loretto will start at 12:30 on Friday on Sports Radio 94FM (94.3FM/94.1FM and 1390AM) and the Westview Charger Athletics Facebook page.
