Top-seeded Bulldogs grind to championship game

JACKSON — There are only two things that matter when you get to the postseason, and top-seeded Gulf Coast checked both boxes Thursday afternoon.

The Bulldogs turned back fifth-seed Itawamba 71-67 in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament semifinal but needed an overtime period to do so at Tougaloo College's Kroger Gymnasium.

"We survived, and we advanced," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "That was a tough ballgame. We knew it was going to be a tougher game. I told the players they were going to make runs. We stuck with it, and we played a little tense. The semifinal game is always the toughest game emotionally. I'm so glad the girls gelled together at the end."

Gulf Coast will play the winner of the Pearl River-Southwest Mississippi game, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday but will likely start later. The title game will be played Friday 5 p.m.

The Bulldogs (22-4) trailed by four with less than two minutes to play in regulation. Ja'Sharreah Hunt (So., Roxie/Franklin County) made the first of several big plays down the stretch hitting a bucket with 1:43 left.

Gulf Coast forced a five-second violation, and after a timeout, ran a set to perfection. Tytiana Buckley (So., Meridian/Meridian) buried a 3-pointer from the right corner for a 63-62 lead with 62 seconds left.

"We ran that play all the way through, and Jacylin (Houston) was able to find Buckley for the kick-out," Adams said. "She knocked that shot down, then went and fouled out. The good thing is we still had Fields on the bench to come in and get her."

Hunt, who finished with a team-high 18, made a free throw with 26.5 seconds left, but ICC (23-6) forced overtime with a pair of freebies.

In overtime, Je'Mya Evans (So., Gulfport/Harrison Central) drove the baseline to give Gulf Coast a 67-65 lead with 2:15 left. The offenses sputtered until Hunt made two more free throws with 27.0 seconds left in OT.

After an ICC driving bucket, Evans made a free throw for a 70-67 lead with 13.3 seconds on the clock to set up Hunt's biggest defensive play. As ICC dribbled the ball near midcourt, she pounced.

"I jumped at her, and she missed the ball," Hunt said. "It was going out of bounds, and I made her double. We got it back and won."

Simaru Fields (So., Pass Christian/Gulfport) made one free throw with 4.7 seconds left for the final margin.

Gulf Coast made 22-of-29 free throws, the most productive game of the season from the line. 

Evans had 17 points, Houston added 14 points, and Buckley 13.

"We got put out in the semifinals last year, so it was mandatory for us to make it to the finals," Hunt said. "It feels good."

NJCAA Region 23 Women's Basketball Tournament

First Round

Saturday, March 9

Higher seed hosts

No. 8 East Central 85, No. 9 Southern-Shreveport 71

No. 5 Itawamba 54, No. 12 Jones 36

No. 7 Northeast Mississippi 90, No. 10 Mississippi Delta 60

No. 11 Meridian 58, No. 6 Northwest Mississippi 55

Quarterfinals

Monday, March 11

Higher seed hosts

No. 1 Mississippi Gulf Coast 57, No. 8 East Central 37

No. 5 Itawamba 51, No. 4 Coahoma 47

Northeast at No. 2 Pearl River 80, No. 7 Northeast 47

No. 3 Southwest Mississippi 72, No. 11 Meridian 53

Semifinals

Thursday, March 14

Kroger Gymnasium, Tougaloo College

Jackson, Miss.

Gulf Coast 71, Itawamba 67 (OT)

Pearl River vs. Southwest, 5 pm

Finals

Friday, March 15

Kroger Gymnasium, Tougaloo College

Jackson, Miss.

Gulf Coast vs. Pearl River-Southwest winner, 5 pm

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.