GIRLS HOOPS: Austin's FTs send Virginia High to Region D finals

CASTLEWOOD, Va. – Teonna Austin was a nervous wreck in the aftermath of Thursday night’s thrilling victory.

“I’m still shaking right now,” Austin said. “I’m just so excited. I am really happy right now. I don’t know what to say.”

Moments earlier, Austin had been the model of calmness in the face of immense pressure.

The sophomore sank two free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining to give Virginia High a 51-49 victory over Wise County Central in the semifinals of the Region D, Division 2 girls basketball tournament at Castlewood High School.

VHS (20-7) secured a spot in the state tournament and will play Gate City on Saturday in the regional championship game. It will be the fourth time the Clinch Mountain District foes have tangled.

“It’s the toughest district around,” said Virginia High coach Mike Goforth. “We’ve been in close games with Lee High, we’ve had close games with Gate City, we’ve had close games with Lebanon. Our district has really prepared us for what we faced tonight.”

The Bearcats dominated in the rebounding department and dictated the tempo for much of Thursday’s game, leading by as many as 10 points in the first half. However, Wise County Central stormed back in the second half and led 49-47 with 40.9 seconds left.

That’s when Austin stepped up. She converted a layup and was fouled in the process with 30.3 seconds left to knot the score at 49. She missed the free throw attempt, but the Bearcats corralled the offensive rebound and played for a last shot.

It ended up in Austin’s hands and she was fouled by Wise County Central’s Laura Gipe on a shot attempt with less than a second left. During a timeout before the crucial foul shots, Austin was given a vote of confidence by Goforth.

“He said he believed in me,” Austin said. “He said it with a smile – ‘I believe in you T.’ ”

Goforth has been working overtime with Austin on her form from the line and the advice prevented the game from going into overtime.

“We went back and watched film and Teonna’s been jumping a lot when she shoots free throws,” Goforth said. “So, I just said keep your feet on the ground and start reaching for the stars, kind of like – who used to say that, uh – Casey Kasem I think. … That’s all I told her.”

Both tosses swished through the net and gave the Bearcats a pulsating victory for the second time in less than 24 hours. VHS used a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Morgan Whittemore to post a 47-44 quarterfinal victory at Grundy on Wednesday.

“These girls really came out, they battled, they believed from the very beginning,” Goforth said. “These girls were so focused today. This was the most focused I’ve seen them all year and these girls are very capable. We rotated eight people in and they were all able to help out. … We had some lapses, but I thought we executed very, very well.”

Senior Chelsea Delapp led VHS with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Whittemore also scored 11 points. Austin, Whittemore, Chelsey Cardwell, Kelsey Nave and Hannah Smith combined for 39 rebounds as the Bearcats dominated on the boards and limited Central’s second opportunities.

Delapp played aggressively as usual and praised her teammate for sealing the win.

“Teonna’s been right beside me all season,” Delapp said. “Every night it seems Teonna steps up in a different way, whether it’s offense or defense. She’s a great player.”

The 49 points were the Warriors’ second-lowest point total of the season.

“We didn’t shoot well,” said Central coach Robin Dotson. “I don’t know what to attribute that to. We had our chances, it just didn’t happen for us. Virginia High had some big offensive rebounds at the end.”

Five missed three throws in the fourth quarter didn’t help for Central, which was ranked among the state’s top-five teams for most of the year and hadn’t lost to an in-state foe before Thursday. Logan Reynolds (18 points) and Hayley Wyrick (11 points) led the Warriors.

“I was proud of the way we fought back,” Dotson said. “We played a good basketball team tonight and we knew they were a good team. I knew we would battle back and make a run and we did. Things just didn’t go our way at the end.”

For the fourth straight year, Goforth has guided a team to the state tournament after leading J.I. Burton to three state berths – and a state title – during his time at the school in Norton.

On Thursday, Virginia High’s first-year coach experienced his most defining victory as the boss of the Bearcats.

“I’m proud of my seniors because they’ve really helped me and they’ve been great leaders in helping me become a Bearcat,” Goforth said. “Boy, am I proud to be a Bearcat.”

Gate City 36, Lee High 34

Jordan Gose sank two free throws with 57.6 seconds left to put Gate City ahead for good and the Blue Devils held on to clinch a state tournament berth.

Gose also had a key steal and rebound in the final moments and finished with 12 points.

Makenzie Cluesman led Lee with 19 points.

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