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State girls basketball: Seffner Christian bends, doesn't break

 
Seffner Christian’s Chelsie Hall, center, drives to the basket against University Christian’s Glenisha Harkless, left, and Alexis Hogans. Hall had 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Seffner Christian’s Chelsie Hall, center, drives to the basket against University Christian’s Glenisha Harkless, left, and Alexis Hogans. Hall had 21 points and 10 rebounds.
Published Feb. 18, 2015

LAKELAND — Greg Fawbush had a plan.

The 20-year coach had seen Jacksonville University Christian before Tuesday, once against his Seffner Christian team, and prior to the Crusaders' 3A state semifinal against the Fighting Christians, he had watched film of five more games.

Every time, he said, they came out in man-to-man defense.

"We had a great game plan against their man; we knew who we were going to go after," Fawbush said after the game. "We told them, they might throw a couple wrinkles at us."

The Crusaders (27-4) were warned, but University Christian's surprise still almost derailed them.

The Fighting Christians came out in a 2-3 zone defense that appeared to throw Seffner Christian for a loop, and in the second quarter it trailed by 15. A year ago, the Crusaders may have fallen under the pressure.

But that was before Chelsie Hall.

The sophomore point guard went on a run midway through the second quarter, scoring three straight baskets to give her team the momentum just before halftime. The Crusaders came out after the break and dominated, beating the Fighting Christians 69-56 to advance to the 3A state championship game a second straight season.

Fawbush credited his team's comeback to her senior leadership and Hall's ability. The Crusaders have benefited from the latter since Hall transferred from Coral Springs Charter to Seffner Christian last summer.

Every game, her teammates say, Hall is the most hyped. At 8 o'clock Tuesday morning, Fawbush even had to get on her for jumping around in the school parking lot.

Nine hours later, that energy was put to good use.

"It was really the first time all year we were, what I call it, hit in the mouth," Fawbush said of University Christian's early lead. "I don't want to say we were shocked, but they were looking for something. And Chelsea gave it to us."

Hall's run began the Crusaders' gradual comeback, and they trailed by just one, 33-32, at halftime.

During the break, senior guard Ally Parimore pleaded with her teammates to hold on to its newfound momentum so the season didn't have to end just yet.

"I was this close to being in tears when we were down 15," Parimore told them. "This is reality, this is my senior year, this is the last of it."

When the game restarted, University Christian (26-3) back in man-to-man defense, everything went as planned for the Crusaders. Peyton Walker, who scored just two points in the first half, scored 17 in the second. Hall finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Ja'Tavia Tapley, who led University Christian with 21 points, scored most of them in the first quarter.

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The Crusaders, who competed in their fourth state semifinal in five years, will play Miami Country Day in Wednesday's championship for a chance to win the school's first state title in any sport.

Seffner Christian, though, knows how tough that road will be against a Miami Country Day team that has ended its season the past two years.

Walker thinks this year could be different.

"We have a chip on our shoulder. It's been three years," she said. "We want to get them finally, and it's the last time we can."