NICEVILLE — The wait is over for Crestview High School’s girls basketball team.
For the first time in 12 years the Bulldogs are district champions.
Crestview claimed the title Saturday in a hard-fought 55-45 win over Niceville in the District 1-7A championship game.
Crestview-Niceville girls District 1-7A finals basketball photos>>>
The Bulldogs will host Leon in the region quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Just how long had it been since the last Bulldog championship in 2003?
Crestview’s lone senior, Jensis Coleman was in kindergarten. Bulldog assistant girls basketball coach, Matt Sanders, a 2008 CHS grad was in the seventh grade and a manager on the team coached by his father, Jay Sanders.
None of that mattered though on Saturday in what can only be described as a game of two halves.
The first half was all Crestview (17-9) as the Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders as they jumped to a 16-3 lead after the first quarter. They extended the lead to 37-13 at the end of the half.
“It feels really good to beat Niceville,” Coleman, who led the Bulldogs in scoring with 20 points, said. “We just came out and played our game and the shots were falling early.”
Bulldog post player Tiara Payne scored the game’s first basket with 6:48 left quarter and Crestview never trailed. A Jaci Hodskins’ free throw for the Eagles (17-9) cut the Bulldog lead in half.
Things then quickly got out of hand as the Bulldogs connected on four straight 3-point baskets.
Lakayla Robinson started the outburst. Coleman followed with her first 3-pointer of the night before Robinson connected from long range again. K.K. McTear closed out the explosion with her only 3-pointer of the night.
Crestview continued to pour it on in the second quarter lighting up the scoreboard for 21 points. Niceville’s offense finally started showing signs of waking up scoring 10 points, but the Eagles still trailed by 24 points at the intermission.
The Bulldogs would still have to weather an Eagle storm in the second half as Niceville tried to rewrite Crestview’s storybook ending.
A 3-pointer by Crestview’s Christa Johnson early in the third quarter extended the Bulldog lead to what would be an insurmountable 27 points.
But credit goes to the Eagles who refused go away. Niceville’s defense stiffened holding the Bulldogs to two free throws in the last 6:55 of the third quarter.
As the defense held the Bulldogs in check Jessie Day went to work for the Eagles scoring nine points, but Crestview still led 42-17 at the end of the third period.
Day, who led all scorers with 31 points, continued her assault on the basket in the fourth quarter with 12 points as Niceville continued to battle back.
A score by Hodskins with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter closed the Bulldog lead to 51-44. Crestview withstood the threat as Coleman and Payne each hit two free throws in the final 75 seconds to secure the Bulldog win.
Robinson scored 12 points for Crestview to join Coleman in double figures.
Bulldog Coach Kathy Combest said the district championship is important as the Bulldogs, who advanced to the Elite Eight last year as district runner up, try to take the place with the top programs in the state.
“Crestview has to establish itself because they are not a program that traditional wins,” she said. “So every game, every year, we have to work harder.”
She also was quick to credit Niceville for battling back.
“They did a great job of adjusting at halftime,” Combest said. “They came close, but we pulled it off.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs win district title (PHOTOS, VIDEO)