Greenwood Christian’s dreams of a Class A regional appearance were dashed Saturday night at Eminence by the host Eels themselves.
Eminence won its first sectional title since 1999, downing the Cougars, 48-39, in the championship game.
Junior guard Sydney Waldron and freshman Keira Goins scored 11 points apiece for GCA (6-19), while senior Lauren Petersen added eight in her final high school game.
The Eels (17-6) outscored the Cougars 11-4 in the third quarter to create some much-needed scoreboard separation. Waldron, who is GCA’s primary ball-handler, fouled out early in the fourth, making the team’s uphill climb even steeper.
First-year Greenwood Christian coach Tiffany Smith-Clements, who watched as five of her team’s first eight losses were by 32 or more points, was proud of the improvement it made as the season progressed.
“Just the amount of growth in our players’ skills and basketball IQ. They’ve had to learn that we have to play hard all the way until the end every game,” she said. “To watch Keira Goins turn into the basketball player she turned into was exciting.
“She’s going to be one to watch.”
Greenwood Christian graduates two players, Petersen and Addie Jolley, both of whom eventually thrived in new roles.
“Both of those girls I’ve had all four years, so they are very special to me,” said Smith-Clements, who previously served as a GCA assistant coach. “They didn’t get a lot of playing time when they were younger, but knew they had to lead this team.”
Eminence, which was led by sophomore forward Sophia Saucerman’s 17 points, faces Bloomfield (13-14) in the second game at the Southwestern Regional.
