BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO – Rusty Bishop didn’t rush the Grainger girls’ basketball team onto the court early during halftime Wednesday so they could work more on their shooting at Middle Tennessee State’s airy Murphy Center.
Sometimes high school teams don’t adjust well to playing inside a college arena. But, getting to the point is just the normal approach at the half for the first-year coach.
“I’m not very long-winded, because they don’t listen to me anyway,” Bishop deadpanned. “If we’re out after the 6-minute mark (during halftime), I’ve talked too long.”
Well, that familiarity helped calm Grainger down and it finally fought back in the second half to get in contention during the Class AA state quarterfinal against Cheatham County.
But the final 90 seconds did in the Lady Grizzlies, as they handed over a win to the Lady Cubs, 49-41.
“I thought coming out (of half) and getting some shots up and just talking with each other and encouraging each other, I thought that helped,” said junior Abbey Hodge. “Bishop told us at halftime that our shots are going to fall and we need to keep shooting.”
Abbey Hodge (15) and the Grainger Lady Grizzlies fell 49-41 to the Cheatham County Lady Cubs in the TSSAA Class AA girls state tournament at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (Photo by Danny Parker)
Hodge led Grainger (30-7) with 12 points, going 2-for-3 from the 3-point line to help spark the comeback effort. But the Lady Grizz didn’t score the final 3 minutes, 24 seconds.
What’s more, a costly turnover on an inbounds play with 1:26 to play triggered the the clinching 6-0 run by Cheatham County (29-3).
With 1:26 left on the clock, Grainger trailed by just two (41-39) and had the ball under its own goal with a possession to tie and take the lead. But the inbounds pass went awry, and Cheatham County’s top player, Jorden Bumpus, was there to steal — turning the mistake into transition points for the Lady Cubs and a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
“We just couldn’t close out in the end,” said Bishop.
Grainger trailed by six at halftime. That deficit could have been worse, but second-quarter 3s by Isabelle Stratton — the team’s lone senior — and Matty Tanner helped mask the fact that the Lady Grizz had 10 first-half turnovers, got out-rebounded 19-12 and shot 25 percent from the floor.
Cheatham County’s ball-security issues (11 turnovers) helped keep Grainger close. And, after a 5-for-9 start from the field, the Lady Cubs shot 35 percent the rest of the half.
5STAR PHOTOS: Grainger Lady Grizzlies in Class AA state quarterfinals
Grainger stayed in the locker room for 2-3 minutes of the halftime clock and then went 7-for-11 from the floor in the third quarter. Tanner’s 3-pointer and putback on a teammate’s miss during the next possession cut Cheatham County’s lead to 29-26 at the midpoint mark of the third. Tanner finished with eight points.
Stratton’s 3 from the corner made Grainger’s deficit 31-29 just a minute later. She also had eight points.
And then, Hodge buried a 3 from the top of the key with 40 seconds left in the quarter to give Grainger its first lead — 34-33.
“Third quarter, I thought we played great,” said Bishop. “I told our girls at halftime that we’ve got a chance. It felt like we played bad in the first half, weren’t very strong with the basketball. Forced a few shots and, you know, had some good looks that didn’t fall.
“But in the third quarter, we came out and shot it great. Shot it great from the 3-point line.”
Sure did, and Hodge added another 3 with 6:10 remaining in the game at 37-all.
But down the stretch, Grainger let the game slip from its grasp. Still, it could prove a valuable learning experience for a roster that returns all its players — save for Stratton.
“This team is this team. Next year’s will be next year’s team. And you don’t ever know what that holds,” said Bishop. “They’ll have some experience to build on.
“But it’s not ever easy to get here.”
Stratton said, through tears, that Grainger will return to state next year.
“I really believe that. They’re going to get in the gym this summer and work hard. My sister was a freshman this years, so it was pretty cool to come up here with her. But I know these girls … they’re all really hard workers.
“I know they can do it.”