ODESSA — Seffner Christian's Alexandra Hagel fired up a 3-pointer with one second left in overtime, but it lipped out as Bradenton Christian held off the Crusaders 57-55 to win the Class A, District 8 girls basketball title.
Maria DeKuiper scored 23 for the Panthers, who won despite going 14-for-26 on free throws.
"This was probably our worst free-throw shooting this entire year," coach Jim Van Til said. "We usually make those shots. That really made a huge difference."
As a result, Seffner cut a large deficit to four by halftime.
Seffner scored five unanswered points to take its first lead at 28-27 in the third quarter, but it could not maintain it. Panthers freshman Hailey Dearlove hit her first field goal of the game to tie it 48-48, then the Crusaders missed two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation.
Arielle Jadlowski led the Crusaders with 17 points.
Benjamin Keller, Times correspondent
Loading...