Late FTs doom AP's comeback

Markida Hawthorne paced along the 3-point line, drawing in deep breaths, tugging nervously at her jersey, hoping to lessen the burden.

The Avon Park point guard had barely missed all night.

She missed twice at the worst possible time.

Hawthorne couldn't convert either of her free throws with 0.6 seconds remaining, allowing Sebring to escape with a 52-51 win over Avon Park on Tuesday night.

"I was just nervous, real nervous," Hawthorne said later, after sitting slumped in her chair on the Red Devils bench. "I can't even talk. I'm just at a loss for words."

It was indeed an interesting final 1:49, with both teams combining to score just three points during that span, despite multiple opportunities to seize control of the game.

"Markida didn't lose the game by herself," Avon Park coach Paulette Daley said. "We missed some chances, and this is a team effort."

After missing the first free throw, Hawthorne keeled over and dropped to her knees. Sebring called a timeout, and she returned to the line, fighting off nerves.

Hawthorne stroked it again and watched the ball spin around the rim. It fell innocently into the hands of Sebring's Shannon Williams, touching off a raucous celebration near the Blue Streaks sideline, as some fans rushed the court.

"She wanted the ball in her hands," Sebring coach Mike Lee said, "and you've got to respect that. She wanted the big shot, and I have no doubt that she'll have that opportunity again. It just worked out for us Tuesday night."

And it was a much-needed win for Lee and the Blue Streaks, who were "killed" in a district game against Winter Haven the night prior.

"It was sort of a blessing," Lee said of getting beat 71-30 on Monday night. "It was good to get that under our belt before playing our rival, and it helped us prepare for Avon Park."

Whatever works.

Sebring never led by more than five points, tussling back and forth with its county rival. Emmanice McCullors, who hit the game-winning shot, scored a team-high 17 points, Williams added 14 and Jerica Moore had 10 for the Blue Streaks, who improved to 4-2 overall.

Sebring showed a willingness early on to attack the lane with Williams, but Avon Park continuously countered by knocking down perimeter shots. The Red Devils made nine 3-pointers, including four by Hawthorne, who scored a game-high 19 points.

"I'm proud of the team," she said. "We played good. It's nobody's fault."

Avon Park led 28-27 at halftime, on the strength of six 3-pointers. But Sebring returned to its post game in the second half, with Williams dominating the paint and McCullors hitting jump shots all over the floor.

The Red Devils actually held a three-point advantage, 50-47, with just under 3 minutes to play, after a putback by Lotiea Shannon.

Lee then took a gamble. He subbed out McCullors, trying to keep her fresh for the final few minutes.

"She got mad at me," Lee recalled after. "She looked at me like, 'What are you doing?' She got mad at me for taking her out. She said, 'I don't need any rest.'"

Apparently not.

McCullors sank a free throw, then hit the decisive shot - a lengthy jump shot over two defenders that gave Sebring a 52-50 lead with 50 seconds left.

"She was just in the middle of everything," Lee said.

Avon Park's Brekayla English then made one of two free throws - both would have tied the game - and Sebring grabbed the rebound. The Red Devils stole the ball on Sebring's third inbounds play, leaving 8.6 seconds on the clock.

After she was corralled on the first two attempts, Hawthorne broke free, drove the lane and was fouled with 0.6 seconds left.

"She was unbelievable," Lee said. "The way she was shooting, I thought we were in trouble there at the end."

So did everyone else.