This year’s Girls Basketball Middle Championship game featured Springfield (formerly Kirby Smith) vs James Weldon Johnson. Springfield would take the early lead as James Weldon was plagued by missed layups and turnovers early in the first quarter. James Weldon fought back after a timeout and was able to tie the game at 5 with under 3 minutes left in the quarter. Springfield would take the lead going into the second quarter 7-5. It continued to be a low scoring game as both teams committed multiple turnovers and fouls. James Weldon would take the lead into halftime 14-12.
The third quarter was more of the same from the first half for both squads. A lot of turnovers, fouls and missed layups. Neither team wanted to give an inch. It was a very competitive, defensive-minded game played by both teams. Shots eventually started to fall for both teams and each managed to score in double figures in the quarter. James Weldon was able to increase their lead by one point and was up 25-22 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter was vastly different. It’s like James Weldon could taste the win. They scored back to back to open the quarter and forced a timeout by Springfield. It was too late though because the momentum had already shifted to James Weldon. They hit 2 threes in a row, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time in the game. Springfield would never recover and James Weldon would go on to win 39-27.
James Weldon was led by 6th grader Jorrdann Sibley and 8th grader Clarice ‘Reese’ Holman who was named the MVP of the game. This was Coach Erica Burton’s first championship since she took over as head coach.
