*****Special to greensborosports.com by Milton Jenkins at the Girls AAU National Tournament up in Kingsport, Tennessee*****
The Galaxy Girls AAU Basketball Team reached the National finals by winning a thrilling double over time victory against the power house Indiana Outlaws 62 to 59. The Outlaws were undefeated just like Galaxy. It was a match up of all match ups. The Outlaws stormed out to quick 11 to 3 lead and looked like they were going to blow the game wide open. But Galaxy girls dug in deep behind Miranda Jenkins (Eastern Guilford) 12 points to take a 18 to 13 half time lead. But the Outlaws were not going to be denied. They came back and led 28 to 24 and had the momentum with 9 minutes to go. Galaxy scored on a jumper by Brittany Drew (Page) and cut the deficit to two. The Outlaws then ran off five consecutive points and had a commanding 35 to 29 lead with only 5 minutes to go in to the contest. Coach Williams of Galaxy called time out and inspired her troops to lay it all out on the floor. Desiree Drayton (Dudley) stole a ball and layed it up. Khadejah Wilkerson( Allen Middle) blocked a shot and then on the other end went in strong for two. The Outlaws had to take a time out with the score 35 to 33 with only 2:34 to go on the clock. The Outlaws scored and had a 37 to 33 lead with only two minutes to go in the ball game. Both teams missed a couple of shots until Miranda Jenkins hit a 15 footer with 1:34 to go. One of the Outlaws players got fouled and converted both free throws and now the game seemed as though it was over. Outlaws 39 Galaxy 35 and only 42 seconds to play.Galaxy came down and missed a jump shot and Leandra Hicks grabbed the rebound and put it back in to close the margin to two 39 to 37 with 10.3 seconds to go. The Outlaws called time out and had to advance the ball the length of the court. Galaxy decided to press and Desiree Drayton deflected the ball off of one of the Outlaws players’ knee on the Galaxy side line. The referee pointed in the direction of Galaxy and awarded Galaxy the ball. Coach Wiliams called time out to give instructions on what would be their last chance for a possible over time. Precious Tonkin took the ball out and passed it quickly to Miranda Jenkins and she drove acroos the top of the key isolated one-on-one and with 3.3 seconds left she hit an off balance bank shot that tied the game 39 to 39. Galaxy held on the inbound play and the first over time was under way. In the second over time both teams scored 13 points each with Brittany Drew hitting a couple of runners and Desiree Drayton converted on a couple of put backs. It still came down to a few seconds and again with 11 seconds to go Miranda hit a jumper to tie the score 52 to 52. Miranda Jenkins led Galaxy with 29 points. Brittany Drew contributed 14 points and Desiree 11. Leandra Hicks had her highest rebound game with 12. The Galaxy squad came together and won a hard fault game. Now they play for the National Championship against First Tennessee Stars tomorrow at 10 am.
Final:
Miranda Jenkins (Eastern Guilford) 29 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assist, 3 blocks
Desiree Drayton (Dudley) 11 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assist, 5 steals , 1 block
Brittany Drew ( Page) 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assist, 1 steal
Khadejah Wilkerson ( Allen Middle) 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks
Leandra Hicks ( Dudley) 6 rebounds, 12 rebounds, 2 steals
Precious Tonkin ( Grimsley) 4 assist, 1 rebound
Brooklyn Davis ( Smith) 2 assist, 1 rebound
Haley Newman ( Northwest) 2 rebound