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OH SO CLOSE: Lady Bucs fall one win shy of state tournament




Beech players watch Brentwood players celebrate as Laci Walmer consoles her teammate Mia Dean Saturday night and DeShiya Hoosier looks on.Brett Berwager

Beech players watch Brentwood players celebrate as Laci Walmer consoles her teammate Mia Dean Saturday night and DeShiya Hoosier looks on.Brett Berwager

BRENTWOOD – Basketball season is over for the Beech Lady Buccaneers. 

A dominant third quarter, followed by three big shots in the final four minutes from the Lady Bruins in the fourth quarter, sealed Brentwood’s trip to the state tournament, 44-38. 

“I felt like both teams played (as) hard as they could, but I think the third quarter was the difference in the game. We didn’t get to our players like we needed to, and they hit key shots,” Beech head coach Kristi Utley said.

“It’s just hard right now,” Utley continued. “There is only one team at the end who doesn’t feel this way, and tonight just happened to be our night (to feel this way).”

The Lady Bucs end their season 27-5 and say goodbye to a talented senior class.

“It was genuine family love,” Utley said of this season. “Everything we did we did for each other and did as a family because we are a family.”

Despite 16 offensive rebounds, Beech tallied just nine second-chance points – all three-pointers. 

The Lady Bruins’ size down low and tenacious ability on the defensive end gave up just eight points in the paint. 

“We couldn’t get into a flow and get the ball inside,” Utley said of the limited points in the paint. “I couldn’t figure it out because we had our sets and knew what we wanted to run; we just didn’t do a good job of doing what we needed to do.”

In the first half, Beech knocked down four 3-pointers, but only found the bottom of the net from distance twice in the second half.

Leading 23-18 to start the second quarter, Beech tallied just three points while Brentwood ran off 13 points. 

“The difference was the third quarter tonight. I don’t know what else to say about it,” Utley added of the eight-minute stretch after halftime.  

Brentwood (29-2) registered just three 3-pointers in the second half, but two came in the final four minutes to help build the biggest lead of the game for either team, 39-31. 

Beech tried to cut into the deficit at the free throw line, but a lane violation on Hoosier’s second shot wiped the make off the board, keeping Beech down two possessions, 39-35, with 52 seconds remaining. 

From there, the two teams traded free throws. 

With 24 seconds left on the clock trailing 41-38, referees let the two teams continue through what should have been a jump-ball call that would have given possession back to Beech but instead resulted in the Lady Bucs having to foul sending the Lady Bruins to the charity stripe for 2 points and the 43-38 lead. 

Following a Beech miss and a Brentwood rebound, a technical foul call for both teams saw Brentwood go to the free throw line for two shots, sealing the victory, 44-38. 

The Lady Bucs end their season one win shy of going to Murfreesboro, and their best season since the 2012-2013 season that also saw 25 wins and a berth in the Class AAA sub-state. 

Beech says goodbye to their four seniors Jana Claire Swafford, Deshiya Hoosier, Mia Dean, and Ryleigh Piotto. 

“I will miss them off the floor,” Utley added. “They are great young ladies. Take away basketball, and they are great ladies who are fun to coach, love to be around each other, and love the game.”

After the game, Kristi Utley announced to her team and fans that she would step down as head coach effective immediately after four seasons leading the program. 

Utley finishes her career 93-35 overall and 46-10 in District 9-AAA play. Her teams saw four trips to the region tournament, three regular season District 9-AAA championships, one District 9-AAA tournament championship, one runner-up District 9-AAA Tournament finish, one third place District 9-AAA Tournament finish, and one Class AAA sub-state appearance. 

Beech players huddle up prior to the opening tip against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech players huddle up prior to the opening tip against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech's Kaiya Wigfall, left, Kyndal Chenault and Beech Girls Head Basketball Coach Kristi Utley cheer after a basket Saturday night at Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Kaiya Wigfall, left, Kyndal Chenault and Beech Girls Head Basketball Coach Kristi Utley cheer after a basket Saturday night at Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's Mia Dean defends Brentwood's Amelia Osgood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mia Dean defends Brentwood’s Amelia Osgood.Brett Berwager

Beech's Bri Ellis controls a rebound against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Bri Ellis controls a rebound against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier makes a jump shot against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier makes a jump shot against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech's Bri Ellis battles and Brentwood's Amelia Osgood battle for contol of a loose ball.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Bri Ellis battles and Brentwood’s Amelia Osgood battle for contol of a loose ball.Brett Berwager

Beech's Riley Long attempts a foul shot against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Riley Long attempts a foul shot against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier drives to the basket against Brentwood's Kate Workman.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier drives to the basket against Brentwood’s Kate Workman.Brett Berwager

Beech's Riley Long attempts a shot near the basket against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Riley Long attempts a shot near the basket against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech players celebrate during a time-out in the 2nd quarter Saturday night at Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech players celebrate during a time-out in the 2nd quarter Saturday night at Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's Laci Walmer attempts to control a rebound against Brentwood's Delaney Trushel.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Laci Walmer attempts to control a rebound against Brentwood’s Delaney Trushel.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier passes the basketball to a teammate.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier passes the basketball to a teammate.Brett Berwager

Beech's Bri Ellis reaches to catch a pass against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Bri Ellis reaches to catch a pass against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech's Natasia Jones drives to the basket between two Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Natasia Jones drives to the basket between two Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech's Mia Dean dribbles the basketball as she's defended by Brentwood's Amelia Osgood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mia Dean dribbles the basketball as she’s defended by Brentwood’s Amelia Osgood.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier dribbles the basketball as she drives towards the basket.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier dribbles the basketball as she drives towards the basket.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier rises to the basket for a lay-up against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier rises to the basket for a lay-up against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier pushes the basketball up the court against Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier pushes the basketball up the court against Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech Girls Head Basketball Coach Kristi Utley watches her team during Saturday night's game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

Beech Girls Head Basketball Coach Kristi Utley watches her team during Saturday night’s game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

Beech's Riley Long attempts a shot as she's surrounded by Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Riley Long attempts a shot as she’s surrounded by Brentwood defenders.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier pushes the basketball up the court against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier pushes the basketball up the court against Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's Natasia Jones attempts a shot near the basket as she's defended by Brentwood's Delaney Trushel.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Natasia Jones attempts a shot near the basket as she’s defended by Brentwood’s Delaney Trushel.Brett Berwager

Beech's Riley Long reaches to control a loose basketball as she's defended by Brentwood's Chloe Wampler.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Riley Long reaches to control a loose basketball as she’s defended by Brentwood’s Chloe Wampler.Brett Berwager

Beech's JC Swafford runs to control a loose basketball as her teammate Mia Dean looks on.Brett Berwager

Beech’s JC Swafford runs to control a loose basketball as her teammate Mia Dean looks on.Brett Berwager

Beech's JC Swafford falls to the floor while battling for control of the basketball against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

Beech’s JC Swafford falls to the floor while battling for control of the basketball against Brentwood Saturday night.Brett Berwager

The Beech student section celebrates a basket during Saturday night's game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

The Beech student section celebrates a basket during Saturday night’s game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

Beech's DeShiya Hoosier attempts to steal an inbounds pass against Brentwood's Chloe Wampler late in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's game.Brett Berwager

Beech’s DeShiya Hoosier attempts to steal an inbounds pass against Brentwood’s Chloe Wampler late in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s game.Brett Berwager

Beech players attempt to steal the basketball from Brentwood's Emily Trushel late in the fourth quarter.Brett Berwager

Beech players attempt to steal the basketball from Brentwood’s Emily Trushel late in the fourth quarter.Brett Berwager

Beech's Mia Dean, left, and JC Swafford look on helplessly with only seconds remaining in Saturday night's loss to Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mia Dean, left, and JC Swafford look on helplessly with only seconds remaining in Saturday night’s loss to Brentwood.Brett Berwager

Beech's JC Swafford, left, and DeShiya Hoosier look down as they prepare to lose Saturday night's game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

Beech’s JC Swafford, left, and DeShiya Hoosier look down as they prepare to lose Saturday night’s game at Brentwood High School.Brett Berwager

Beech's Mia Dean looks towards the court with only a couple seconds remaining during Saturday night's defeat at Brentwood ending Beech's season.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Mia Dean looks towards the court with only a couple seconds remaining during Saturday night’s defeat at Brentwood ending Beech’s season.Brett Berwager

Beech's Natasia Jones walks off the court as Brentwood players celebrate on their home court after winning Saturday night's game.Brett Berwager

Beech’s Natasia Jones walks off the court as Brentwood players celebrate on their home court after winning Saturday night’s game.Brett Berwager

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