Mar 14, 2010
Forestview High School logo
Shannon Smith and her Gastonia Forestview teammates had had a long time to think about this one game.
One year after losing a Class 3-A North Carolina High School Athletic Association women's basketball championship game, the Jaguars came back to win their first title on Saturday with a 62-55 victory over South Central Pitt.
Forestview (27-2), which opened in 1998 and lost the state final 60-58 last season to Greensboro Dudley, won its first NCHSAA state team championship of any kind. Kelsey Harris added 13 points and Bre Armstrong 10 for Forestview, which has won 16 straight games.
"I'm just excited for all these girls," Forestview coach Ken Beaty said. "It takes luck and a lot of hard work. Last year's loss really helped us out. That was one of our motivating factors. We remembered how we felt last year. This feels a whole lot better."
South Central (28-5), which opened in 2002, is still seeking its first NCH SAA state title. Danielle Butts had 17 points and 13 rebounds for South Central, while JaNesha Ebron added 16 points. Haley McCorkle added five points and 13 rebounds for the Falcons.
"It's been a great year and the kids deserve all the credit," South Central coach Mary Bryan Carlyle said. "Our game plan was looking like we wanted it to in spurts. We came back and made it close, but we just couldn't get over the hump."
Forestview led 17-8 after the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the way. South Central's closest approach in the second half was four points. The Falcons cut the lead to five twice in the final 67 seconds, but Harris and Smith each hit a pair of free throws to keep the margin from getting closer.
"It took a long time to get over last year's game," said the senior Smith, who was named the game's MVP and has signed to play with North Carolina next season. "I think we're finally over it now."
Forestview won despite losing the reb ound battle 38-25. South Central also outshot the winners 42.9 percent to 37.5 percent. But the Jaguars handled the ball better, committing 12 turnovers compared to 26 for South Central.
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