CRESTVIEW — If Crestview High School’s girls basketball team is a little bettered prepared when it meets Fort Walton Beach in the District 2-6A tournament later this month Tuesday’s game will have a big part in the preparation.
Nothing came easy for either team in what, for the most part, was an ugly game.
Free throws didn’t come easy as the teams combined to hit just 24-of-47 from the line. Three-point baskets didn’t come easy as the Vikings hit the only two 3-pointers of the night.
And even getting the ball into the front court was difficult at times.
It was the ability of the Vikings to pressure Crestview during a three-minute stretch in the third quarter that was the difference in the game as Fort Walton Beach took a 53-47 win.
The Viking led 31-26 with 6:30 left in the third quarter when Fort Walton Beach coach Holly McDaniel went to the full court press. The press led to 10 unanswered points, six of which came from Alysia McLeod as the Vikings seemed to take control of the game up 41-26.
“The press hurt us,” Crestview Coach Kathy Combest said. “We lost our composure, I thought, because my kids are young. Seeing the press they know what to expect when they go into district.
“They are going to battle. It’s a shame that all my ball handlers are straight off the junior varsity team from last year. But they are learning and we are just going to keep battling.”
And battle the Bulldogs (6-7, 0-3) did.
A basket by Aliyiah Brown snapped the Viking streak and seemed to help the Bulldogs find their groove.
Crestview continued to chip away at the Fort Walton lead closing to within three points. In the end the hill was too steep and Fort Walton Beach (16-5, 2-2) took the win.
The Bulldogs battled early as well and led throughout the first quarter as Tiara Payne got off to a quick start scoring seven points to give the Bulldogs a 13-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings led 30-24 at the half.
Peanut Payton led the Vikings in scoring with 15 points. McLeed and Julia Turner each had eight points.
Payne led all scorers for Crestview with 16 points. Amiah Banks added 15 for the Bulldogs.
FORT WALTON BEACH 53, CRESTVIEW 47
Fort Walton Beach 10 20 13 10 – 53
Crestview 13 11 9 14 – 47
FORT WALTON BEACH (53)
Dominique Darby 6, Aaliyah Davenport 4, Yvonne Ford 2, Leesa Greenwood 6, Alysia McLeod 8, Peanut Payton 15, Sakeenah Rasheed 1, Julia Turner 8, Alexis Gilliam 3. Totals 21 2 5-13 53.
CRESTVIEW (47)
Amiah Banks 15, Aliyiah Brown 4, Tiara Payne 16, Kashira Casey 3, Nyquaja Collins 2, Dionjenae Hendrix 4, Catera Rutland 1, Netaya Winston 2. Totals 14 0 19-34 47.
Cresetview-Fort Walton Beach girls basketball box
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview comes up short against VIkings (PHOTOS)