It’s amazing how much of a difference six minutes can make in a basketball game.
Trailing by two at the half, the Tecumseh girls’ basketball team exploded for a 15-2 run in the third quarter, to take a comfortable lead and cruise to a 63-47 victory over Beavercreek in the Division One Sectional Championship game at Troy on Friday night.
It is the first time in school history that the Arrows have qualified for the district finals, and they will likely play defending state champion Lakota West on Saturday in the districts, at Harrison High School with tipoff time TBA at press time.
“We have been here five of the last six years and have not won it yet,” Tecumseh coach Danielle Thomas said. “It was a tall order and we were trading buckets in the first half. We turned it up defensively in the second half.”
Both teams came out in the opening quarter and battled, with the Beavers jumping out to a 13-8 lead with 3:49 left in the quarter. Corinne Thomas buried a three and later, Caroline Smith added a three to cut their deficit to one point with 1:41 left in the quarter.
Presley Griffitts then scored the final four points of the period, and the two teams were knotted at 18 after one.
Tecumseh looked like they were going to pull away in the second period, when Lindsey Nartker scored six straight points to open up a one point game and give the Arrows a 27-20 lead with 5:45 left in the half. But just as quick as Tecumseh getting the lead, they watched as the Beavers took the lead 31-29 and again 36-33 near the end of the half.
The Arrows came out on a mission in the third period, as Danielle Franklin scored a pair of layups, and Griffitts then took over. The freshman scored seven points in a span of three minutes, and add in Nartker scoring to give the Arrows a 49-38 lead.
Alexa Low and Kayla Shieds brought Beavercreek back to within eight before Griffitts struck again, sending the Arrow in front 51-43 after three.
Tecumseh slowed down the game in the fourth, maintaining ball control and patience, and Thomas buried a three to increase their lead out to 11 at the start of the period.
The Arrows hit 9-14 free throws in the final four minutes, to maintain their lead down the stretch.
“Lindsey and Presley struggled in the first half, and they carried us in the second half,” Thomas said. “Nobody hands this game to you, once you get to this level and we managed the third quarter and fouth quarter very well.”
Nartker led the Arrows with 18, Griffitts added 15, Thomas and Franklin each added 13.
