Hannah Bullock’s three-pointer with three minutes left to play Saturday night proved to be the dagger in the heart of the Stirling Lakers.
Bullock’s trey gave the F.P. Walshe Flyers a 51-46 lead that Stirling could not overcome in the championship game of the Deep South Conference junior varsity playoff tournament.
The Flyers, who went into the tournament seeded No. 2 behind Stirling, won 54-50 to become postseason champions.
Flyers 49 Eagles 42
The Flyers opened the five-team tournament Saturday with a 49-42 win over Immanuel Christian Eagles.
The Eagles soared to a quick start, leading the Flyers 12-7 after one quarter.
F.P. Walshe got rolling in the second quarter, though, scoring 18 points while holding Immanuel Christian to 11.
Jayden Goodstriker scored seven of her game-high 21 points in the second quarter as the Flyers took a 25-23 lead.
The Flyers increased their lead to 36-30 after three quarters and outscored the Eagles in the fourth quarter to win 49-42.
In addition to Goodstriker’s 21 points, the Flyers got seven each from Sam Bassett, Katie Bullock and Cheyenne Hofer.
Nicole Quinlan scored four, Holly Bergo had two and Nicolle Roy had one point.
The victory advanced the Flyers to Saturday night’s championship game against Stirling, who beat Willow Creek Cobras 47-31 in the other semifinal game.
Flyers 54 Stirling 50
The F.P. Walshe gymnasium was packed with fans Saturday night and they got their money’s worth as the Flyers edged Stirling 54-50 to win the postseason title.
Stirling jumped out to a 13-9 lead in the opening quarter and appeared to be in control.
Jayden Goodstriker caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 11 points to help the Flyers take a 25-24 halftime lead.
The end-to-end battle continued after the break, with the Flyers leading 42-40 after three quarters.
Stirling continued to press but the Flyers held the Lakers to 10 points in the fourth quarter while scoring 12 of their own to win 54-50.
Goodstriker was the game’s top scorer with 15 points. Sam Bassett had a dozen for the Flyers and Hannah Bullock had 11.
Cheyenne Hofer scored six, Holly Bergo had four and Carlin Van Driesten, Nicole Quinlan and Katie Bullock each had two.