In a dramatic showdown, the clock ran out on Portland’s spirited fourth-quarter comeback in the District 9-3A girls basketball championship against Liberty Creek. Despite trimming a 23-point deficit to just eight, Portland couldn't close the gap any further, ultimately falling 48-40. This victory marked Liberty Creek's second consecutive district championship and their first in Class 3A.
The game kicked off with Portland holding possession for the first three minutes, a strategic move by Coach Scott Steinbrecher, who aimed to disrupt Liberty Creek’s defense. Senior Ke’Ava Bradley held the ball at midcourt, waiting for Liberty Creek to make a move. Once the action started, Guorchiek Mut and Nyaluak Pal led the charge, with Pal drawing a foul and sinking two free throws.
Liberty Creek, however, quickly found their rhythm. They surged ahead with six straight points from Olivia Tate and a buzzer-beating putback by Aaryn Lauderdale, ending the first quarter with an 8-2 lead. By halftime, they extended their advantage to 27-11, stifling Portland’s offense.
The third quarter saw Liberty Creek's lead swell to 33-11, but Portland wasn’t done yet. Regular-season district MVP Mut and Bradley ignited a 15-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter, breathing life back into the Panthers’ hopes. Emerson Fitzwilson halted the momentum with a crucial layup, and Liberty Creek maintained their edge, ultimately securing their 20th straight win.
District tournament MVP Maisen Lewis noted, “We all had a gut feeling they’d try something different to throw us off, and we recovered really well.” This game reignited the debate over implementing a shot clock in Tennessee high school basketball. While some, like Lewis, support the idea for its potential to keep the game dynamic, others, including Liberty Creek’s Coach Kari Douglas, have reservations.
“I still am for not having it,” Douglas explained. “Girls basketball can be messy, and a shot clock might speed things up too much.” In contrast, Coach Steinbrecher believes a shot clock could be beneficial, particularly at the end of games.
Both teams advanced to the Region 5-3A quarterfinals, with Liberty Creek eyeing their first region tournament win in school history against MLK Magnet. As Lewis put it, “We want to make it as far as we can-all the way to the state.”
Final Score: Liberty Creek 48, Portland 40
Liberty Creek: Kaylor West 12, Emerson Fitzwilson 11, Maisen Lewis 10, Olivia Tate 8, Aaryn Lauderdale 3, Delaney Corlew 2, Mia Rives 2