COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Battling tooth-and-nail, Cleveland and Cookeville needed overtime to decide who would continue on to the Blue Cross State Championships and who would have to wait until next year to try again.
After all but 26 seconds in regulation, the Lady Raiders had to fight back to even the score late in the extra period before a pair of free throws with four second left prevented Cleveland from making a second straight trip to the "Glass House," as the Lady Cavaliers pulled out the hard-fought 57-55 win in a tussle between teams tied for 12th in the final TSWA Class 4A State Poll.
"Our girls played with poise and controlled most of the game in a packed out gym," proclaimed second-year Cleveland head coach Bianca Hensley.
"We were up by six with 1:30 (to go in regulation) and we failed to take care of the ball and knock down free throws to seal the win. That gave Cookeville a chance to capitalize on our mishaps.
"Proud of our efforts in overtime despite three key players fouling out. This team was a fun group of girls to coach this year. We return several key pieces," she added as only two Lady Raider seniors ended their prep careers in the contest.
Finishing a season that saw the lineup decimated with the loss of a trio of starters for the vast majority of the campaign, Cleveland posted 24 wins, plus won its second straight District 5-4A title. The heartbreaking loss in the TSSAA Sectional playoffs was the Lady Raiders' ninth defeat to a team that advanced to the state's Elite Eight.
Cookeville (24-7) advances to its third state tournament in last four years and will open against Lincoln County (25-8) Thursday.
LADY CAVALIERS 57, LADY RAIDERS 55 OT: Getting off on the right foot with the first of three long-range bombs from senior Emma Smith just 40 ticks into the contest, Cleveland stretched its advantage to a half dozen before Lilly McCarter drilled Cookeville's lone 3-pointer of the evening with six seconds on the opening period clock to trim the difference to 12-9.
After Smith's triple, Tennessee signee Lauren Hurst dominated inside to score the other nine Lady Raider points in the opening period.
Both teams struggled to score in the first half of the second frame, with a steal and a fastbreak basket by 2024 All-State Tournament Illianis Rodriguez the only points, putting the guests back up by five.
A short jumper from the lane and another triple by Smith, plus Hurst adding paint bucket stretched the edge to eight points before taking a 21-14 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
Cleveland's "D" held the host scoreless from the field (0-for-7), Cookeville's only second period points came from hitting 5-of-6 free throws.
The Lady Cavaliers, which earned the rite to host the substate game by beating Lebanon in the Region 4 final after dropping their three previous meeting with the Devilettes, came out of the break determined, putting up seven of the first nine points.
The Lady Raiders held the hosts at bay temporarily as the game was tied twice at 25- and 27-all.
Draining a free throw with 2:01 on the clock, the Lady Cavaliers finally edge ahead by a point, but 26 seconds latter freshman Ariyah Huffman connected for long distance to put Cleveland back up before Smith drained her final shot from "downtown" for a five-point lead.
Like they did all night, Cookeville put up the final points of a period, this one coming on a driving basket by Cara Lee Gilbert with four ticks left for a 33-30 difference.
After Hurst added the opening basket of the fourth quarter, the Lady Cavaliers battled back to within a point with a 6-2 spurt.
Once again, Cleveland answered the challenge with 7-2 run to get a little breathing room.
Down by a half dozen with 101 seconds remaining, the hosts were forced to foul and the strategy worked as the Lady Raiders made just 2-of-6 "freebies," plus a very controversial backcourt violation call and Hurst being whistled for her fifth foul allowed Cookeville to put up six straight points.
After a pair of Huffman charity tosses inched the visitors back ahead with 23.7 showing, Cookeville called a timeout and set up a game tying play with the quick Gilbert once again slicing to the basket for a lay in with four seconds to go.
Coach Hensley called a timeout try to win it, but the shot attempt didn't get off in time, forcing the extra play.
With the momentum on their side and Rodriguez getting called for fifth foul just 16 ticks into the overtime, the Lady Cavaliers moved ahead with seven of the first 10 points, during which key reserve Izzy Smith was also sent to the bench with her final foul with 2:12 remaining.
Copeland, the District 5 Player of the Year, then drove to the hoop for a bucket and after a Lady Cavalier turnover, drained a 3-ball from beside the key to put Cleveland back up by two with 42 ticks remaining.
Cookeville once again answered with 12 ticks later when Callie Reeder getting a paint bucket to knot the score at 55-all.
After the 16th Lady Raider turnover on the ensuing trip down the court, the hosts were able to eat up the clock before drawing their sixth foul of the four-minute extra frame and Charlie Roby drained both free throws with 3.9 showing.
Cleveland was able to get off a potent game-winner, but Huffman's half-court heave caught iron, but not nylon.
With tears of disappointment running down their faces while the home team players and fans celebrated, the Lady Raiders congratulated them and headed to the locker room to contemplate what had just happened.
While Cleveland made 3-of-4 field goals in the extra half period, Cookeville hit both if its attempts, with the main difference coming at the stripe, while the host went 7-for-7, while the visitors were given just three chances, making two.
A total of 46 fouls were whistled during the hotly-contested action, with 16 of Cleveland's 25 coming after halftime.
Despite having to leave the game early, Hurst topped all scorers with 21 points, plus the 6-foot-3 leaper cleared 10 rebounds for a double-double, while also blocking a pair of shots, dishing out a pair of helps and copping a theft.
Smith finished with 14 points and two caroms, while Copeland netted nine markers and Huffman seven, plus she swatted a couple of Lady Cav shots.
Gilbert lead the way for Cookeville with 14 points, while Roby added 16 and grabbed four boards. Reeder put up 14 markers and cleared away four boards.
As a team, the Lady Cavaliers made 50% of 32 two-point tries, but was just 1-for-6 (16.7%) from distance and pulled down just 18 caroms to go with a dozen turnovers.
On the other hand, Cleveland shot 52% (13-of-25) in front of the 19-foot arc, but were off target from long range, making going only 5-for-21 (23.8%) The Lady Raiders won the battle of the board with 21 ricochets.
GAME SUMMARY
TSSAA Girls
Sectional Game
Saturday, March 8
at Cookeville
Cleveland 12 9 12 13 9 — 55
Cookeville 9 5 16 16 11 — 57
LADY RAIDERS (55) — Lauren Hurst 21, Emma Smith 14, Laney Copeland 9, Ariyah Huffman 7, Rodriguez 3, I. Smith 1, Gravelle, Davis.
LADY CAVALIERS (57) — Cara Lee Gilbert 20, Charlie Roby 16, Callie Reeder 14, Hudson 4, Dirkson 3, McClouod, McCarter.
3-POINT GOALS: CLE 5 (E. Smith 2, Huffman, Copeland); COOK 1 (Reeder).
FREE THROWS: CLE 14-of-21 (66.7%); COOK 21-of-26 (80.8%).
RECORDS: No. 12 Cleveland 24-9; No. 12 Cookeville 24-7.