Division 2-A girls: Northpoint beats University School of Nashville, 51-49

The Northpoint girls basketball team had the ball in the hands of the right player Thursday afternoon. And she delivered the right result.

Karlie Hughes hit a 3-pointer with 35.9 seconds left to give the Trojans a 51-49 victory over University School of Nashville in the semifinals of the BlueCross Division 2-A girls state tournament at Allen Arena.

The victory gives Northpoint (30-3) a spot in Saturday’s 1 p.m. title game against Knoxville Webb, which beat Ezell-Harding 54-41 in the other semifinal.

“Coach (Barry Gray) always tells us that when we shoot we have to believe that’s it’s going in,” said Hughes, who finished with five points. “I believed it would go in and I knew the good Lord was looking over us.”

Hughes’ bucket came moments after she had fouled USN’s Alex Miller on a 3-point shot. Miller made all three to put USN up 49-48.

USN had a chance to retake the lead on the next possession, but Katie Roth missed from close range after a well-designed inbounds play.

After Ashtyn Baker missed the front end of a one-and-one that could have sealed it for the Trojans, USN hustled the ball downcourt but failed to get a shot off.

Senior Kimberlee Keltner scored 19 to lead the Trojans, who lost in the semifinals last year.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “We work for each other.”

The Trojans also got a huge boost from eighth-grader Lauren Gross, who made five 3-pointers and finished with 16 points.

“I was shocked at how calm she was,” said Gray. “I was worried she wouldn’t even hit the rim.”
Said Gross, “I’ve been working on my shot all year ... and it just fell tonight.”