CRESTVIEW — There was plenty to celebrate for Crestview High School’s girls basketball team Monday night.
The Bulldogs were at their tenacious best against District 1-7A rival Niceville. Crestview needed to beat the Eagles by more than 10 points, and then beat Navarre on Thursday to wrap up the number one seed in the upcoming district tournament.
Mission one accomplished. Jensis Coleman scored 20 points and Christa Johnson added 12 points as the Bulldog rolled to a 60-42 win.
Crestview-Niceville girls basketball photos>>>
“This is what we had to do,” Crestview coach Kathy Combest said. “We had to beat Niceville by more than 10 points (because Niceville won the earlier meeting 53-44) to be the number one seed.
“They go by how many points you win. They did a good job. Their stuff didn’t fall. Over there everything fell.”
The game contrasted two styles of defense. The Eagles (15-6, 6-1) used a zone defense and tried to force the Bulldogs into hitting the outside shot or driving through traffic to get to the basket.
Crestview relied more on a man-to-man defense with defenders dropping back to help.
Early in the game it seemed as if the bigger Eagles would be able to use the zone and their size to their advantage.
Niceville’s Michaela Mitchell scored the game’s first points on a pair of free throws. Johnson responded with back-to-back baskets to put the Bulldogs up 4-2.
The game was tied 10-10 at the end of the first period. A basket by Madison McNabb early in the second quarter put Niceville in front 12-10. It was the last time the Eagles led.
A Johnson scored pulled Crestview (12-8, 6-1) even and a K.K. McTear basket put the Bulldogs in front once and for all.
Jessie Day tried to keep the Eagles close, but the night belonged to Crestview.
The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 24-19 at the half.
Coleman said felt the Bulldogs swung things in their favor in the second quarter playing ball the way Combest demands.
“We just had to get back on defense, play hard and just be aggressive,” she said.
Crestview led 42-31 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was slowed by numerous fouls by both teams. Attrition started to take a toll on the respective rosters.
By the time Day, who led Niceville in scoring with 13 points, fouled out with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter the Bulldogs were up by 13 and had the game in hand.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs take step toward top district seed (PHOTOS, VIDEO)