BAKER — Things should be better for Baker School’s girls basketball team next year.
Next year, the Gators, who have no senior, will be a year older, stronger and more experienced. Yes, Baker should be improved next year.
The Gators weren’t thinking about next year Tuesday as they took their home court against rival Jay in the District 3-1A tournament. They were simply trying to extend the season at least one more came.
Baker’s hope of extending the season was not to be. The Gators couldn’t overcome a slow start as they fell to the Royals 62-56.
Baker-Jay girls basketball photos>>>
Baker coach James Kerrell saw glimpses Tuesday that gives him hope for the team’s future.
“We probably played the most complete game we played all year,” he said. We still mistakes here and there. But our defensive intensity was where I wanted it tonight.
“For the first time all season, we played as hard defensively as I’m used to coaching teams to play.”
There’s a good chance Kerrell might not have felt so good about things after the first quarter of play.
Carrisa Mulford, who led the Royals in scoring with 14 points, scored seven of those points in the first seven minutes. Mulford’s first basket came 30 seconds into the game and Royals never trailed. Jay led 12-4 at the end of the quarter as all the Gator points came on free throws.
It looked as if Jay was going to blow the game open 33 seconds into the second quarter when Emily Russell hit a pair of free throws.
Kerrell called a timeout following the first of the first free throws to try and right the Gator ship.
The strategy worked as after the timeout the Gators started to find their way back into the game.
“Really it was nothing profound that I told them in the timeout,” Kerrell said. “I just stressed to them that we need to pressure the ball. Pressure the ball on defense and move the ball on offense.
“If we move the ball around the perimeter when they are in that zone we are going to get that open shot. We got hot for a while and started hitting shots. We just came short.”
Baker’s climb back started quietly with a pair of Jessica Black free throws. The older Black sister, Ashley connected on the first Gator field goal of the night with 6:11 left in the quarter.
Jessica Black then caught fire from outside hitting three 3-pointers. Jessica Black was joined the scoring spree by Amanda Parisi as Baker cut the Royal lead to 29-27 at the half.
The game would continue to swing back and forth in the second half.
Jay opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run. Three-pointers by Parisi and Jessica Black stopped the Royal outburst and closed the Royal lead to 38-32 with 4:07 left in the period.
Baker closed the Jay lead to 56-53 with 2:23 left in the fourth quarter when Alena Banks scored off an offensive rebound.
Jay put the game away at the line in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter hitting 6-of-8 free throws to seal the win.
Parisi led Baker in scoring with 18 points. Jessica Black added 17.
The Gators finished the season with a 5-15 record.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Jay downs Baker girls in district tournament (PHOTOS, VIDEO)