Marlin Classic girls: Briarcrest knocks off Graves County

A new state hoisted a trophy at the Marlin Christmas Classic.

Jasmine Cincore scored 18 points and helped Briarcrest Christian of Tennessee run past Graves County, Ky., 55-34 on Saturday in the girls championship. The Saints became the first team from Tennessee to win a title in the third year of the girls bracket. Graves County fell short in its bid to give Kentucky a second championship.

Lake Mary handed Wren of South Carolina a second straight loss with a 45-36 victory for third place. Cookeville from Tennessee defeated Starr’s Mill out of Georgia 51-41 for fifth place. Crystal River edged Arnold 43-41 for seventh in the first game of the day.

Championship

Briarcrest Christian 55, Graves County 34

Briarcrest turned a close game into a rout in the second half when Graves County went dreadfully cold. The Saints adjusted to man coverage in the final two quarters and it paid off, as the Eagles were held to seven points.

Meantime, Briarcrest scored 30 and cruised to a victory that coach Lee Smith said could pay dividends in the future.

“It’s important to win, to play in tournaments like this, because we don’t usually get to play the scrappers,” Smith said. “They took us to the bell. We saw different talent that we won’t see at home.”
This was the second blowout in the tournament for Briarcrest, which improved to 16-1 and will return home in search of a state title. This most recent championship trophy came after Graves County held a two-point lead at halftime.

Briarcrest controlled the first quarter and led 16-10. The Saints held the advantage until Alivia Coleman’s 3-pointer tied the game 20-20 with 2:21 left in the second quarter. Bailey Hawkins gave Graves County its first lead with a 3-pointer a possession later.

The lead hovered near three points until Cincore’s 3-pointer for a 25-25 tie late in the first half. Taylor West gave Graves County a 27-25 halftime lead with a score near the buzzer. The largest first-half lead was six, 8-2, held by Briarcrest midway through the first quarter.

The close game became less so in the third, when Briarcrest outscored Graves County 15-3. West had the Eagles’ lone converted field goal and the Saints led by 10 after 24 minutes.

Cincore scored to give Briarcrest a 44-31 lead with 5:40 showing on the clock. It was part of a 17-6 run during the second half. Graves County (6-7) couldn’t answer the surge.

“We picked up the intensity,” Smith said. “But we also stopped trying to trap. We played basic defense and we didn’t think they could beat us in a man.”

That theory was proved in the second half, as Graves County only had two field goals, both by West, who scored eight points. Hawkins also scored eight.

Elise Holden added 13 points for Briarcrest, which scored 15 points in each of the third and fourth quarters to secure the crown.

BRIARCREST (55)
Dunseath 1 0-0 2, Salazar 1 0-0 3, BHolden 1 0-0 3, Peete 2 0-0 4, Kramer 1 2-2 4, Smith 1 0-0 3, EHolden 5 2-4 13, Cincore 4 10-11 18, Parks 1 3-3 5. Totals: 18 17-20 50.

GRAVES COUNTY (34)
Whitnell 1 0-0 2, West 3 2-2 8, Hawkins 3 1-2 8, Wiggins 1 1-2 3, Barton 3 1-2 7, Coleman 2 1-2 6. Totals: 13 4-10 34.
Briarcrest                           16 9 15 15 – 55
Graves County   10 17 3 4 – 34

3-point field goals: Briarcrest 4 (Salazar, BHolden, Smith, EHolden), Graves County 2 (Hawkins, Coleman). Rebounds: Briarcrest 28, Graves County 27. Turnovers: Briarcrest 11, Graves County 20. Team fouls: Briarcrest 14, Graves County 15. Fouled out: None.


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