CRESTVIEW — Dreams of a state championship will have to wait another year for Crestview High School’s girls basketball team.
On a chilly Tuesday night in February the Bulldogs were ice cold shooting the ball in the Region 1-7A semifinals against Okaloosa County rival Niceville. Crestview’s season ended with a 48-43 loss to the Eagles.
The first quarter was nip and tuck with Niceville’s Jessie Day scoring the game’s first basket. Dionjenae Hendrix responded with a basket for Crestview (18-10) and was fouled on the play.
Crestview-Niceville girls basketball photos>>>
Hendrix missed the free throw that would have given the Bulldogs the lead. The teams traded scores throughout the first quarter.
The game was tied 10-10 at the start of the second period.
A Micheala Mitchell 3-pointer put the Eagles back in front. Three free throws by Crestview’s Jensis Coleman tied the game at 13-13.
With 4:57 left in the half Jessie Day took the ball hard to the basket. One official seemed to call Day for the charge, but another official overruled the call and whistled the Bulldogs for a block. Day hit two free throws to give the Eagles the lead they would hold the rest of the game.
Niceville led 23-10 at the half and pushed the lead to 33-24 at the end of the third quarter as the Bulldogs only connected on a pair of baskets.
Crestview struggled to score in the third quarter missing shots from within three feet of the basket as well as from behind the 3-point line.
Niceville scored five quick points to open the fourth quarter pushing the lead to 38-24. The five points would be the difference in the game.
K.K. McTear and Coleman tried to pull the Bulldogs back into the game. A McTear 3-pointer with 1:20 left in the fourth quarter cut the Eagle lead to 44-39.
Twenty-two seconds later Tiara Payne hit a pair of free throws for the Bulldogs to make the score 44-41.
The Eagles sealed the game hitting four straight free throws.
Day led all scorers with 18 points. Mitchell added 14 for the Eagles.
McTear topped the Bulldogs with 13 points. Johnson scored 10 and Coleman eight.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Season ends for Crestview girls (PHOTOS, VIDEO)