Raines HS- If you missed the Gateway Conference Tournament Championship game for the girls, you missed a good one. It was a rematch of last year’s championship pitting rivals Raines and Ribault against each for bragging rights as the best public school in Duval county.
Raines came out on top for the second year in a row, but for about two and a half quarters, Ribault looked to run away with the game going up as much as 17 points, 40-23 with 4:30 left in the 3rd quarter. Ribault had controlled the game for the most part as Raines had trouble scoring against their tough defense. Raines figured it out late in the 3rdquarter as they ramped up their own defense and converted on almost every turnover.
They went on an impressive run, holding Ribault to just 5 points to close the 3rd quarter with a huge 3-pointer from Selah Reddick, capping off a 20 to 5 run. Raines tied the game 47-47 with 6:33 left in the 4th quarter.
Ribault fought back and regained the lead a minute later, 50-47. Raines then got two huge 3-pointers from Senior Ahliah Brown and Freshman Nyeema Dixon to tie and then take the lead for good at 53-50 with 2:53 left in the game. Ribault had opportunities to pull closer as Raines missed back to back layups but they committed a turnover and had a missed layup of their own. Ribault kept fighting though, forcing Raines into a turnover with a little under a minute left in the game but gave the ball right back.
Again, Ribault forced another turnover and called a timeout with 30 seconds left in the game. They called the perfect play and got their shooter Asia Fleming a wide open look from the three point line for a chance to tie, but it went half way down and popped out. Raines got the rebound but Ribault forced another turnover with 23 seconds left in the game.
It appeared that Ribault had cut the lead to one point as they went in for a layup but a travel was called wiping out the basket. Ribault was forced to foul and Raines missed the first free throw and made the second one putting them up 54-50. Ribault still had a chance to come back, but had trouble getting a clean shot off while precious seconds ticked off the clock. They finally converted a layup from Senior Kendra Williams bringing them to within 2 points, 54-52 with 5.7 seconds on the clock and called an immediate timeout. Raines inbounded the ball to their leader Senior Selah Reddick and Ribault committed the foul to keep hope alive with 4.5 seconds left in the game.
Just like before, they missed the first and made the second free throw putting them up 3 points, 55-52. Ribault called their final timeout and set up a play. Sophomore Asiana Britt got a running start towards their basket and Senior Nigeria Harkless delivered a perfect pass. Britt was able to get a good look and a couple of dribbles after she caught the ball at midcourt. She put up the shot but it was too strong. Raines completed the comeback to successfully defend their title and are now back to back Gateway Conference Champions.
