http://www.indexjournal.com/sports/highschools/mccormick-makes—point-fourth-quarter-comeback-to-advance-in/article_263a8976-9b47-5233-98bc-b6e2469e1e30.html

SPARTANBURG — Jordan Brown’s confidence seemed to grow with every step toward the free-throw line, and she took many of them. Frustrated into missed and-ones all night, Brown was in control when stepping to the free-throw line one last decisive time.

“My coaches just told me to leave it all out on the floor and let’s go do it,” Brown said.

Brown sank two free throws with fewer than 30 seconds left Monday to give McCormick’s girls basketball team a 38-37 win against High Point Academy during the Class 1A state quarterfinal.

“We reiterate every day all day, free throws are the ballgame — free throws and layups,” McCormick coach Gena Wideman said. “And down the wire she came through.”

McCormick will face Timmonsville at 4 p.m. Friday at Bon Secours Arena in Greenville in the state semifinal.

With nine seconds left, High Point’s Taniah Wilkins had the chance to tie the game but missed her second free throw. Brown hauled in the rebound to solidify McCormick’s win. Wilkins led High Point in scoring with 14 points.

McCormick didn’t just notch the win at the free-throw line late, but throughout the game. The team shot 17 of 31 from the free-throw line, while High Point went 10 of 25.

Steady free-throw shooting and lockdown defense allowed the Chiefs to roar to a comeback in the fourth quarter. An 11-3 run bolstered by a 3-pointer, the game’s only 3-point shot, from Mikayla Patterson lifted McCormick back into contention.

Brown, who finished with 11 points, made a layup in the first quarter. It was her only field goal of the night. McCormick’s T’laysha Creswell scored eight points from the field and added seven more from the line to lead the game in scoring with 15 points.

The Chiefs had trouble executing in the third quarter. The Chiefs didn’t score until three minutes remaining in the quarter.

Wideman clamored for better rebounding on the sideline, as the Chiefs continued to allow High Point offensive rebounds.

The improved rebounding toward the end of the third quarter allowed Brown and Creswell more opportunities to attack the basket.

“It just opened it up for my teammates, and then it wasn’t hard for me,” Brown said.

Until the fourth quarter, Brown rarely saw the ball in positions where she could score, and finished the first half with only three points.

“She’s a young lady with a lot of desire,” Wideman said. “She works to be successful and because she works to be successful, frustration kicked in a little ways down the line. But we talked to her and said, ‘Listen, you have to take the negative and make it a positive’ and that’s what she did.”

The win came in McCormick’s fourth matchup with High Point this season. The Chiefs lost to High Point by 17 points Feb. 9 in the Region 1-1A tiebreaker, but were missing Brown because of an injury.

Going into McCormick’s matchup with Timmonsville, Wideman is focused on bringing back a key rebounder for her team in Atinee Rucker. Rucker was out Monday with an ankle injury.

Wideman said the Chiefs’ comeback was the best she’s seen all season.

“I am extremely proud, not only of T’laysha and Jordan because they’re all-state players,” she said. “But I am extremely proud of the entire team.”