Tennessee commit Brooklynn Miles scored eight of her team's final 10 points in a 55-50 overtime win over South Laurel. (Brendon Miller/KHSAA Photo)
South Laurel made 28 turnovers, did not get a field goal from its leading scorer because of foul trouble, and sent Franklin County to the foul line 35 times but yet still had a chance to beat Franklin County before falling 55-50 in overtime Wednesday at the state tournament in Rupp Arena.
Sou0th Laurel was down nine points at halftime but fought back and looked to be in great shape when Reagan Jones scored off an Emily Cox assist with 56.3 seconds left in regulation to take a 50-45 lead. That’s when Tennessee signee Brooklynn Miles took over for Franklin.
She hit a clutch 3-pointer from the corner with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter and then got a steal, drove, and drew a fifth foul on South Laurel’s Rachel Presley, her team’s leading scorer on the season, with 12.3 seconds left in regulation. She buried both free throws to tie the game and it went to overtime with South Laurel senior point guard Brianna Howard missed a foul shot with 2.7 seconds left.
Neither team scored in overtime for over three minutes before Franklin tallied on a follow shot with 47.8 seconds left and then Miles put it away with three free throws.
Franklin coach Joey Thacker said he told Miles “it is time for you to go and she went” late in the game.
“She made some big plays and big foul shots, too,” Thacker said.
Miles only made five of 17 shots from the field but had 17 points, eight steals, and five assists. She was 5-for-7 at the foul line. Patience Laster had 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting and 14 rebounds.
Miles said her philosophy was “I am not losing” late in the game and she took the key 3-pointer with no fear or hesitation even though the Flyers had not made a field goal in the fourth quarter until then.
“Give her credit. She hit a big 3 in the corner and hit clutch free throws,” South Laurel coach Chris Souder said. “She has not signed with Tennessee for no reason. That is what big-time players are supposed to do.”
The Flyers had 28 points off Mercer’s 28 turnovers and kept the South Laurel offense out of sync most of the game. Jones had 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and 10 rebounds for South Laurel along with two assists, one block, and one steal. But she also had seven turnovers. Howard, who will play collegiately at Midway, hit three 3-pointers and had nine points, four rebounds, and two assists but had nine turnovers against Franklin’s pressure.
“Their quickness bothered us,” Souder said. “We floated too many passes. They were pretty physical. We knew that maybe would be a concern but we made a few more (turnovers) than maybe I wanted to make.”
Franklin got to the foul line 35 times compared to 14 for South Laurel. But the Flyers made just 17 of them. However, they got Presley in immediate foul trouble and she played just 16 minutes and missed her only two shots — both 3-pointers. She also had only two rebounds.
Thacker said his team wanted to try and get Presley in foul trouble if possible.
“There could have been a ton more fouls called and a ton not called. There were a lot of good-sized bodies flying around,” he said.
“I do not understand the free throws and I will not get into that,” Souder said. “That’s the way it goes and you have to adjust. Emily Cox (seven points, 12 rebounds) had a great game. Our bench did a good job. These kids have learned how to fight. I love these kids. They won’t quit. We will let this drive us.
“Any time you lose that last game it is tough when the kids work so hard. We started the season 1-5 and had injuries and to get to this point I do not know when I have ever been as proud of a team. I told them to get the crying out of the way. This is a happy ending regardless (of the loss). They earned the right to be here. We had the opportunity to win. Give Franklin County credit.”
