Lady Flames win regional championship, return to state tourney
AUSTIN — Seven months ago, Faith Academy girls basketball coach Jerry English told his players the talk around the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools was that the Lady Flames’ best days were in the past.
Sports pundits said Faith (33-2) would have a nice team, but it wouldn’t be in the running for a state title. The Lady Flames dispelled that talk with 45-34 victory against Shiner St. Paul Feb. 26 in a regional final that wasn’t as close as the score might indicate.
"This whole year everyone was saying things that we couldn’t do, were unsure about us this year," senior point guard Tori Diamond said, "and we have met every challenge that has been thrown out at us, and I am so proud of these girls."
This marks the fourth time English has guided a Faith team to the state tournament since taking over as coach at the private Christian school in 2005-2006.
It marks his 15th trip to the Final Four in his career, which includes coaching at public schools.
"I had my birthday yesterday, and the kids asked me what I wanted," he said with a grin. "I’m sure they thought I’d say I want to win. I said I wanted five more practice dates. And that’s exactly what we got."
Faith led, 6-4, after the first quarter but began to force its will on the Cardinals in the second. The Lady Flames went on a 9-0 run for a 13-6 advantage with four minutes 25 seconds remaining in the half.
Junior post Brooke Field added a layup right before the horn sounded for a 20-12 lead.
Faith was simply dominant in the third stanza. The Lady Flames gave up only one point in 6:45 to take a 29-13 advantage highlighted by a 3-pointer from junior forward Beth Ann Berkman.
Sophomore guard Bailey Brinkley scored on an offensive rebound and passed to Field for a layup to end the period with a 33-17 lead.
"If we would just quit self-destructing, we’re going to blow this thing wide open and win by 20," the coach told his players during halftime.
But St. Paul never quit, opening the final quarter on a 7-0 run that ended when Brinkley scored a layup, 35-24, with 4:43 left.
The Cardinals knocked it down to a seven-point deficit but couldn’t get closer as both teams scored 10 points each to end the contest.
Field led Faith with 14 points followed by Brinkley’s 13. The Lady Flames made eight of their 12 free throws in the fourth period.
St. Paul senior forward Emily Wagner led all scorers with 15.
"I’m just so proud of my kids," English said. "I just can not tell you what a joy it is to be with these kids every day. It went about how I thought it (would) except we might have handled (their) press a tad better."
Faith will face DeSoto Canterbury, the 63-48 winner against Muenster Sacred Heart, in the state semifinals 6 p.m. March 4 at Fort Worth Nolan Catholic.
The winner will then face the victor of the Victoria Faith Academy-Sherman Texoma Christian Academy semifinal for the Class 2A state championship.