BY DAN FLESER
NASHVILLE — Claire Brock did so much in getting the Christian Academy of Knoxville girls’ basketball team to Nashville.
Her teammates came through in a time of need Friday afternoon to help extend the stay.
Ellie Fussell and Caroline Meyers stood in for the ailing Brock as the Lady Warriors’ leading scorers in a 47-39 victory over Northpoint Christian School in the Division II-A state semifinals.
Fussell scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the first half at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena. The senior guard capped the victory with four free throws in the final 44 seconds.
In between, Meyers, a sophomore center who didn’t play basketball last season, scored all of her 13 points. All of them came in the second half.
CAK girls’ coach Abby Williams (left) talks to Claire Brock, who suffered from a stomach ailment Friday. (Photo: Charles Pulliam)
“I never lost confidence in this team,” said Brock, who was battling a stomach illness. “I know throughout the season every single player gained confidence.”
The victory advanced CAK (26-5) to its first appearance in the championship game. The Lady Warriors will face Providence Christian (21-7), a 56-40 semifinal winner over Harding Academy, at 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Brock was slowed to an almost complete scoring stop by her condition. The senior guard, who averaged 19.8 points during the season and 29 in the last four games, scored only two points. She shot 1 for 6 from the floor and missed all four of her 3-point attempts.
Brock also logged just 26 playing minutes. She sat in the lead chair on the team’s bench for the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, consuming fluids.
While Brock was diminished in terms of production, she served a key strategic purpose with her mere presence on the court. Northpoint Christian (21-7) was more concerned with her potential than her plight and played defense accordingly.
“You have to give them credit,” Northpoint coach Barry Gray said. “All of their guards were very efficient because of the space we were taking away from (Brock).”
Fussell had some experience with an expanded scoring role. She had 14 points in the sub-state overtime victory over University School of Jackson last Friday.
CAK’s Ellie Fussell goes up for a score in Friday’s Division II-A state semifinal against Northpoint Christian. (Photo: Charles Pulliam)
“We’re not used to playing without her,” Fussell said. “But we knew we had people who could step up.”
That said, Meyers was unlikely hero. She spent last year playing with a traveling volleyball team.
“It’s kind of crazy,” she said. “I’m still in a little shock.”
The Lady Warriors withstood a game-high 20 points by Northpoint’s Amara McKay. They also overcame their 1-for-7 shooting on 3-pointers.
CAK covered for suspect outside shooting with some determined scoring at the rim. The Lady Warriors converted three conventional three-point plays. Two came late in the first half to provide a 20-17 halftime lead. Meyers scored the third in the third quarter.
In this case, a practice habit paid huge dividends.
“We have this wonderful drill,” CAK coach Abby Williams said. “It’s all about taking that extra step to finish at the rim and draw contact.
“They beat each other up. They hated it at the beginning. They can’t wait to do it now.”
The new featured drill will be nursing Brock back to health. The Lady Warriors then will try to make the most of their extended stay.
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