4A GIRLS: Byrd, Bulldogs dethrone Gaels with 0.5 to spare
Alexis Byrd probably never will forget the final second of Friday’s Class 4A girls state championship.
The Centennial junior had the opportunity that basketball players dream of.
Byrd went to the free-throw line with 0.5 seconds left and her team trailing Bishop Gorman by one point — and made her dream come true.
Byrd sank both free throws, the second ricocheting a couple of times off the rim before falling in, to put the Bulldogs back on top of the state basketball heap with a 59-58 win at the Orleans Arena.
“I knew I was going to make my free throws and win a state championship,” Byrd said. “We practice free throws every day. I knew practicing free throws was going to come through for me one day, and this was the moment.”
It’s the first title for the Bulldogs (32-2) since a run of four straight that ended in 2006. Gorman (29-5) had its streak of three straight titles snapped.
In the closing seconds of a finishing stretch that had more ups and downs than the scariest roller coaster, Centennial twice chased down an offensive rebound before finding Byrd barely open on the right side.
She drove near the baseline and drew contact well before her shot went in.
Officials waved off the basket and called a blocking foul on Gorman.
“I just don’t think you make a call like that,” Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. “Let the game play.”
With Centennial in the double bonus, Byrd got two shots, needing to make one to force overtime and two to set off a celebration.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better person to be on the line,” Centennial coach Karen Weitz said. “Byrd just has so much confidence. She’ll always say she can do anything, and she’ll pound on her heart.
“You never know if she’s serious or not, but that girl has ice water in her veins.”
Teammates offered words of encouragement that Byrd barely heard. She was too busy telling them not to worry.
“Lexi hasn’t had much confidence in her free throws lately, but when I talked to her, she told me she was going to win it,” Centennial senior Johnna Brown said.
Byrd’s first shot was perfect. After another gathering of teammates, her second shot teased everyone before falling through the net.
“I was just excited,” Byrd said. “I’m glad I did it for my seniors.”
“I was just excited,” Byrd said. “I’m glad I did it for my seniors.”
Gorman’s final desperation heave wasn’t close.
It was an ironic end for the Bulldogs, whose lone Achilles’ heel this season has been free-throw shooting.
“That’s what championship games are all about, the unknown,” Weitz said.
Before Byrd’s free throws, Centennial was 11 of 18 from the line.
Centennial expanded a 32-28 halftime lead to 38-30 early in the third quarter and led 45-39 late in the quarter but couldn’t put away Gorman.
“We knew they were going to come back and battle,” Weitz said. “There really wasn’t the punch run by either team tonight.”
The Gaels pulled within 57-56 on two free throws by Dannielle Diamant with 1:43 to play, then took the lead on Chelsie Pitt’s basket with 20.3 seconds left.
It was Gorman’s first lead since the first quarter.
Byrd, who hounded Gorman standout Aaryn Ellenberg all game, and Brown each scored 15 points to lead Centennial. Deanna Daniels added 10 points and 15 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Ellenberg led Gorman with 15 points. Pitt and Diamant each scored 14, with Diamant adding 10 rebounds.
“We’ll be back next year,” Krmpotich said. “It’s the way the ball bounces. I’m not worried about it.
“They can enjoy this one; we’ll take the next several.”
