CRESTVIEW — It will be a familiar song with a new verse Tuesday when Crestview High School’s girls basketball team hosts Niceville in the Region 1-7A semifinals.
The game will be the fourth between the Bulldogs and Eagles this season.
Getting to Tuesday’s game was no easy task for Crestview as at times the deck seemed stacked against the Bulldogs as they hosted Leon in Thursday’s region quarterfinals. When the final card was played the Bulldogs could take a deep breath and enjoy a 54-47 win.
Crestview-Leon girls basketball photos>>>
The game was delayed by more than 90 minutes because Leon’s bus broke down. As the scheduled 7 p.m. starting to approached the near capacity crowd in the Bulldog gym was rocking at fever pitch in anticipation of the first home playoff game in a dozen years.
Crestview’s players took the court several times during the long delay trying to stay sharp mentally and physically.
By the time the game finally tipped off at 8:40 the fans and the Bulldogs were as flat as the Mississippi Delta.
“What bothered us was the delay,” Bulldog Coach Kathy Combest said. “Here we are, we warmed up and couldn’t play. We came back out two or three times.
“We were all excited at the beginning, but you can’t wait an hour and 40 minutes to play (and expect to be sharp).”
Crestview (18-9) took a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Dionjenae Hendrix scored the game’s first basket and Tiara Payne followed with a pair of baskets.
The Bulldogs never trailed, but they never seemed to be able to find their rhythm against a Leon (12-16) team. The Lions seemed determined to slow down the pace of the game and keep Crestview from pressing and converting on points off turnovers.
The Bulldogs led 14-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Bulldog senior point guard Jensis Coleman got off to a slow start and didn’t score in the first quarter. Coleman picked things up in the second quarter scoring six if her team-high 16 points.
Coleman’s efforts were overshadowed by Leon’s Jayla Williams who carried the Lions on her back. Williams scored nine points in the second quarter as Leon trailed 27-22 at the half. Williams finished the night with 33 points.
Crestview was able to counter Williams with balanced scoring. Coleman was joined in double figures by Payne, Hendrix and Christa Johnson. Hendrix had 12 points. Payne and Johnson each scored 10 points.
A basket by Hendrix off an offensive rebound with 4:18 left in the third quarter put the Bulldogs up 38-27, but the Lions wouldn’t go away as Williams continued to lead the Leon charge.
Williams hit a 3-pointer with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter to close the Bulldog lead to 49-45.
A Payne basket with 1:02 left in the game pushed Crestview’s lead back to six points. Just before 10 p.m. Leon’s bid for the upset ended and the Bulldogs could start thinking about Tuesday’s game with Niceville.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview delayed but not denied (PHOTOS, VIDEO)