District 1-5A girls: Bay tops Arnold for title

SPRINGFIELD — Anyone who knows a girls basketball team that has gone through more uncertainty and adversity in the past 14 months than the Bay Tornadoes raise your hand.

If it’s still in the air, consider what the Tornadoes had to overcome in posting a 61-44 triumph over Arnold Saturday night to claim the District 1-5A title at Rutherford.

Bay has had four head coaches shouting directions during that span dating to the program losing head coach George Hamilton, who died suddenly in December 2010.

It advanced through the semifinal despite the absence of head coach Glennda Long, who left the bench due to illness. She returned on Saturday, but it was her husband, Clay, who again supplied direction from the sideline.

The Tornadoes not only had to defeat the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds to win the championship, but in Arnold had to face a team they had lost to twice during the regular season.

All that, and after seeing a 21-point halftime lead shrivel to six at 44-38, they had to summon the resolve to somehow stem momentum and take the most challenging steps of all.

Instead of despair, the Tornadoes played with full hearts. Their passion, commitment and ultimately their grit was on display in a 17-6 run to close the game.

“I’m just so elated for them, everything they’ve been through, to get this thing done is a dream come true,” Clay Long said. “I told them at halftime to focus. To don’t let go. To don’t let down.”

Arnold was playing for the first district title in school history in boys or girls basketball. From the onset Saturday, it appeared that what Bay was seeking was something larger.

As a result, every loose ball seemed to be corralled by a player in a black jersey. What the Tornadoes didn’t accomplish with determination, they achieved with anticipation.

Shytiarra Webb scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter as Bay pulled away to clinch the title. Shania Brantley had 17 and NiKaya Russell 14. But the outcome really was decided on the other end of the floor.

“They just played excellent defense,” Clay Long said.

Early on, transition baskets off steals and strong offensive rebounding combined with deadly outside shooting. The result was a 31-10 Bay lead with 3 minutes left before halftime.

Arnold finally warmed to the challenge at that point. The Marlins trailed 34-19 at intermission, and with JoJo Booker notching eight of her team-high 15 points in the third quarter edged within 42-33.

Twice Arnold shaved the deficit to six points, the last time at 44-38 with 4:39 remaining. That’s when Bay somehow found another gear, Webb leading the way with nine points in the final 3:41.

By one account, it was an improbable finish to a daunting mission.

You can put your hand down now.

Bay, 10-8, will host the runner-up from District 2-5A, a three-school grouping of Rickards, Wakulla and Suwannee on Thursday in a Region 1-5A quarterfinal. Arnold, 12-14, will travel to play the 2-5A champion.

• ARNOLD (44)
• Booker 5 5-7 15, Canady 3 0-0 6, Jasay 1 0-0 2, McClanahan 1 0-0 2, Murray 2 0-0 4, Robertson 4 2-4 10, Tennyson 2 1-1 5. Totals: 18 8-12 44.
• BAY (61)
• Webb 6 4-7 18, Martin 2 4-6 8, Brantley 6 4-11 17, Russell 7 0-2 14, Watson 2 0-0 4, Peterson 0 0-0 0, Austin 0 0-0 0, Williamson 0 0-0 0.Totals 23 12-26 61.
• Arnold 8 11 14 11 — 44
• Bay 21 13 8 19 — 61
• 3-point goals: Bay 3 (Webb 2, Brantley 1). Total fouls: Arnold 19, Bay 14. Fouled out: Arnold (Booker, Tennyson).