Thursday, March 28, 2024

A moment of triumph

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Talking casually before the Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship Division II state title game in Willow Park Saturday, Cornerstone Christian Academy Lady Crusader head coach Neville Jones mentioned he was hoping his team wouldn’t have to stage a comeback against Mineral Wells Community Christian.

But as it turned out, CCA did need to stage a comeback, and unlike their title game appearance in 2017, this time the Lady Crusaders finished the job. Cornerstone beat Community Christian 42-36 to win its first basketball state title in school history, for either boys or girls.

For Jones, now in his second season with the Lady Crusaders, the win was validation. For the Cornerstone players, some of whom were on the runner-up team in 2017 and many of whom won bronze last year, it was a breakthrough.

“Amazing,” Jones said. “Amazing. I’ve been to seven Final Fours, and last year we wound up in third.

“It’s a real thing. No words.”

The Lady Crusaders trailed the entire first half and didn’t take their first lead until midway through the third quarter. Community Christian was doing a good job of forcing Cornerstone into low-percentage shots, and the Lady Crusaders were playing too much isolation ball.

Community Christian guard Hena Spahic scored a game-high 17 points and was able to work her way into the paint against taller Cornestone defenders. The Lady Crusaders held Community to just 24 percent shooting, but Cornerstone wasn’t able to capitalize in the first half.

Cornerstone trailed 10-7 after one quarter and 21-17 at the half.

Jones credited Community Christian as being a “phenomenal” team. He said his players had to make halftime adjustments to fight back.

“The kids settled back down, and once they settled back down, they understood we needed to pass the ball, move the ball around a little bit more,” Jones said. “They were attacking, but they weren’t getting to where I wanted them to shoot.

“They settled down and started getting to those spots. And all of a sudden, the ball started going in.”

Cornerstone won the third quarter 11-5 to take a 28-26 lead going into the fourth. The Lady Crusaders then fought their way inside to draw fouls on Community Christian, and Cornerstone was able to live at the free throw line.

Junior Leah Lawson finshed with a team-high 15 points and was 6-6 from the free-throw line in the second half. Senior captain Baylee Morton scored 11 points, as did her sister, sophomore Brailyn Morton. Brailyn hit three three-pointers for Cornerstone.

Sophomore Callie Moore finished with three points, and freshman Kayla Kirk got a bucket to fall in the first quarter when the Lady Crusaders were struggling on offense.

Morton and Lawson played pivotal roles all year, and were rewarded with postseason honors. Lawson was named to the All-Tournament team, while Morton was named the TCAF Division II State Tournament MVP.

Morton, the captain and leading scorer for the Lady Crusaders, thrust the championship trophy in the air in celebration as her teammates looked on. Jones said she’s made massive improvements on the mental side over the last two years.

“Baylee has been a chore,” Jones said with a laugh. “When I first got here last year, the year before she had fouled out almost every game and she had gotten a technical in half of them.

“And last year we had to change her attitude and get her to understand that she’s not the only player, and that everybody’s going to do it. She understood that – she wants her teammates to succeed, she’s always been a team player, but it’s hard when some people don’t understand you.

“I had to tell the girls, ‘This is what Baylee’s going to be doing. You have to step up too.’”

And step up they did.

Cornerstone will return nine players from its championship team roster next season.

grant@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 254

2019-20 CCA LADY CRUSADERS

1 Maia Sheffner, Fr.

3 Katie Agster, Sr.

5 Sarah Wilson, Soph.

10 Brailyn Morton, Soph.

13 Riley Jones, Fr.

15 Baylee Morton, Sr.

20 Callie Moore, Soph.

21 Leah Lawson, Jr.

22 Cathey Mitcham, Fr.

25 Kayla Kirk, Fr.

32 Tori Stultz, Soph.

COACH: Neville Jones

MANAGER: Macie Brandon