Brentwood Academy avenged a loss to Ensworth in last year’s state championship with a 48-44 victory.
By Jason Williams
Nashville, TN – With a team fueled by memories of last season’s 57-42 loss in the state championship game, Brentwood Academy was led Saturday by a player who didn’t play last season.
Eight grader Sydni Harvey scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in leading her team to a come-from-behind 48-44 win over Ensworth.
“We lost last year, so most of our team except (Harvey) knew how that felt,” said Brentwood Academy coach Rhonda Brown. “I just give them so much credit for hanging in there.”
Down by 14 in the first quarter, the eighth-grade sensation led a rally just before halftime. Harvey scored five straight to cut the Tigers’ lead to six. She hit two jumpers in the second half that gave her team the lead.
While a performance by an eighth grader on this stage is beyond unusual, the 14-year-old Harvey does not see her youth as a disadvantage.
“I just tell myself they’re just girls, just like me,” said Harvey, who won an AAU national championship in the sixth grade.
“She’s just savvy,” Brown said. “You’d never know when she played with us that she’s an eighth grader. She gets along great with the girls. She’s a great teammate.”
At the end of the game, it was two more young players, sophomores Breuna Jackson and Anna Stephens, that hit free throws to put the Eagles ahead for good.
Jackson was fouled after an Ensworth turnover and proceeded to hit two free throws to give the Eagles a one-point lead with 23 seconds remaining. Ensworth couldn’t get two desperation looks to fall, and Stephens sealed a state championship with two free throws in the final three seconds.
Miss Basketball finalist Kennesha Nichols led the Tigers with 15 points but did not score in the second half. Brelle Smith also had 12 points.
Other news and notes from today’s game:
Briarcrest senior Jasmine Cincore was named Miss Basketball in Division II-AA for the second consecutive year. Cincore led the Saints to a 28-1 record. She has signed to play with the University of Nebraska next year.
2014 Division II-AA Girls All-Tournament Team:
Sydni Harvey (MVP) – Brentwood Academy
India Hall – Brentwood Academy
Breuna Jackson – Brentwood Academy
Kennesha Nichols – Ensworth
Brelle Smith – Ensworth
Jasmine Cincore – Briarcrest
Kennedy Potts – Harpeth Hall
J-Will Sports 