Goose Creek girls rally to stun Spring Valley for Class 5A state crown
Spring Valley and Goose Creek have been two of the top girls program in the state over the last decade and the latest installment in their series lived up to the billing.
Goose Creek rallied from 12 points down in the second half to stun Spring Valley, 52-51, and win the Class 5A championship on Friday at Colonial Life Arena.
It is the Gators’ third state title, all coming since 2010. Goose Creek has beaten Spring Valley for two of them.
“Obviously the pressure got to us and we crumbled,” Spring Valley coach Megan Assey said. “We made some bad decisions with the ball. I can’t blame the players. That falls on me as a coach.”
Mary Davis, a 46 percent free-throw shooter on the season, hit two free throws with 9.5 seconds left to put Goose Creek up 52-51. The Vikings, who were going for their second straight title, had a chance to win it. Taylor Lewis missed a shot in the lane and Lauryn Taylor had her shot blocked with 0.4 seconds left.
After a timeout, the Vikings couldn’t get a good look as time expired. It was SV’s first loss to an in-state Class 5A opponent since losing to Socastee in the 2017 playoffs. Since that loss Spring Valley has gone 54-6 and went to back-to-back state championship games.
“I hate it for these kids,” Assey said. “I said it before, I Iove them so much. This hurts. Not only are they champions on the court but they are champions off the court as well.”
Assey took the blame for her team’s execution down the stretch. She also thought Goose Creek was the tougher team inside down the stretch.
“Officials let it be a physical game and I said it in the press conference it was going to come down to physicality,” the third-year coach said. “They out-physicalled us in the end and hit some big shots and were able to come up with the victory.”
Cierra Shivers and Aniyah Oliver led Goose Creek with 12 points each.
Senior Taylor Lewis led Spring Valley with 24 points and Ashley Williamson had 13.
Lewis, a Middle Tennessee signee had a big-time spin move in the lane for two and hit a pair of free-throws to put Spring Valley up 51-43 with 1:57 left.
But the Vikings didn’t score again and Oliver made two crucial plays down the stretch for the Gators. She hit a 3-pointer and followed with a jumper to get Goose Creek within 51-50 with 36 seconds left.
“That’s what high school athletics is all about. It’s about the big game and kids making plays when they have too, and she did,” Goose Creek coach Tim Baldwin said. “Aniyah hit the big 3, we get stops. You hear the kids talk and it’s just awesome.
“Spring Valley is a good basketball team, without a doubt. Our kids tonight just dug in.”
GC: Davis 4, Stanley 5, Nelson 6, Cierra Shivers 12, Aniyah Oliver 12, Adams 4, Saylor 7, Goodman 2. SV: Coleman 4, Taylor 8, Taylor Lewis 24, Ashley Williamson 13, Britt 2.
This story was originally published March 1, 2019 at 9:23 PM.
