Veterans fought off a second-half comeback by a determined Wayne County team to win 28-24 and advance to the Class AAAA girls state championship game.
After suffering through a nightmarish first half, in which they scored only three points, the Yellow Jackets mounted a 19-7 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to pull within two points, 26-24, with less than a minute remaining. Wayne County was forced to foul Veterans to win it with free throws, and the Lady Warhawks came through. Junior guard Carrington Kee, who finished the game with seven points, hit two clutch free-throws with 48 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
“I have to give Wayne County a lot of credit. We frustrated them in the first half and they frustrated us in the second half,” said Coach Nicki Miranda. “We never really got into a groove, but I’m really proud of my girls for fighting through adversity and doing what it takes to get the win.”
Kya Cochran and Racquel James both added six points for Veterans. Tania Ward led Wayne County in with 11 points, and Amani Trice added six.
