DAHLONEGA — No matter what happened Friday night at a packed-out Lynn Cottrell Gym, history was being made.
Unfortunately for the Lumpkin County girls, they will not get a much-anticipated shot at a state title after a heartbreaking 46-45 loss to Cross Creek in the Class 3A semifinals.
Cross Creek’s Erin Martin scooped up a pass from a falling Jordyn Dorsey on a frantic inbounds play in the final 5 seconds and converted a layup at the buzzer for the game-winner.
That came after Lumpkin County had battled from 41-37 down to take a 45-44 lead on an Isabel Davenport free throw with 5 seconds remaining.
The Lady Indians, with three fouls to give, tried to foul on the ensuing inbounds play but did not get the call as the ball trickled away from two defenders and right to a wide-open Martin at the foul line.
“We didn’t get the foul there,” Lumpkin County coach David Dowse said. “I guess we should have fouled harder. It was just an unfortunate bounce right to (Martin). Not much you can do about that."
Both teams came in looking for their first-ever trip to Macon and the championship game. The Lady Indians (25-4) did make their first-ever semifinals one to remember as they battled the favored Lady Panthers down to the final second.
A near-overflow, raucous crowd packed the gym and was not disappointed. But Dowse said the enthusiasm for the Lady Indians program was built by the likes of seniors Davenport, Mackenzie Caldwell, and the rest of the crew of Lady Indians over the past four seasons.
“That was a fantastic atmosphere. That’s what high school basketball is all about,” he said. “These girls have built this program over the last four years, not the coaches. They have gotten better each year and you can see the support that they have gotten. It is well-earned. This is all them.”
By many, Lumpkin County came in as a clear underdog despite playing on their home floor. They didn’t let that bother them as they fired out of the gates hitting their first four shots, including 3-pointers from Lexi Pierce and Averie Jones on consecutive possessions, and forcing three Cross Creek turnovers while running out to a 10-4 lead.
But as hot as the Lady Indians started, they went just as cold over an 11-minute stretch into the second quarter. They missed 12 straight shots, including eight 3-pointers, while the Lady Panthers finally settled in.
Cross Creek got a 3-pointer from Jordyn Dorsey to spark a 6-0 run to close out the first quarter and Michaela Bogans scored five straight points to open the second as they pulled ahead for a 17-10 lead.
Davenport finally ended the long scoring drought with back-to-back 3-pointers sandwiched around a Cross Creek turnover to pull Lumpkin County back within 18-16 with 1:22 left in the half. The half ended there as the teams traded turnovers in the final seconds.
The second half was a mirror-image of the first.
“We talked at halftime but really didn’t feel we needed to change much,” Dowse said. “Defensively we did a great job all night. We took good shots for the most part so we just stayed with our plan.”
Lumpkin County again got a quick start as Caldwell scored on the opening possession and Jones converted a steal into a fastbreak basket. Mary Mullinax capped the 7-0 run for a 23-18 lead with a 3-pointer.
But Cross Creek answered back with a 9-0 run, including a long 3-pointer from Dorsey to reclaim the lead 27-23. Caldwell hit a trey to snap the run but the Lady Panthers closed out the third quarter with three free throws from Martin for a 32-26 lead.
Lumpkin opened the final period with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 34 but Dorsey answered with five straight points. The Lady Indians used an 8-2 run to take a 42-41 lead and led 44-42 with 41 seconds left on two Pierce free throws. Bogans tied it at 44 with a basket with 15 seconds left.
Davenport looked to have the game-winner making 1-of-2 free throws with 5.7 seconds left. But it wasn’t meant to be.
“The girls couldn’t have done any more at any point and gave everything they had,” Dowse said. “Tremendously proud of them. You have to tip your cap to (Cross Creek) and Dorsey is one heck of a player.”
Dorsey finished with 21 points to pace Cross Creek, who will take on the Upson-Lee/Greater Atlanta Christian winner in the state finals on March 12 at noon at the Macon Centreplex. Bogans had 10 points and Martin 5, all in the second half.
Davenport poured in 16 points to lead Lumpkin County, 10 coming in the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers. Jones, who came in averaging over 20 points a game in the playoffs, was held to just 9 points. Caldwell had 10, all in the second half to help fuel the comeback.
