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Holy Names Tops TC

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By CHARLES GONZALEZ, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 2, 2008

TAMPA - Academy of the Holy Names got its shot to prove all the doubters wrong after hearing all season that Tampa Catholic was going to battle St. Petersburg Catholic for the Class 3A-District 11 title.

Despite blowing a 15-point lead, the Jaguars hung on to defeat Tampa Catholic 60-57. Academy of the Holy Names was led by Katie Davis with 16 points and Selena Castillo added 15 points. The Jaguars will face St. Petersburg Catholic in the final tonight at 7.

Not that it was pretty late. With the game tied at 57, the Jaguars went 3 of 8 at the free-throw line in the final minute. But Tampa Catholic was unable to execute either. The Crusaders had three opportunities to tie or win the game, but failed to convert. Collette Eule's desperation 3-pointer clanked off the rim as the final horn sounded.

"It was tough and I think fatigue played a little factor, but we found a way," Holy Names coach Casey Higgins said. "We tried to give it away at the end, but we just found a way. It was real pretty."

With the Jaguars leading 51-41 early in the fourth quarter, Tampa Catholic went on a 10-0 spurt with Sarah Brennan scoring six of her game-high 22 points in the run. Point guard Michelle Gingras was big in the Crusaders' second-half push, scoring 12 of her 15 points in the half.

"We just got outhustled and put them on the free-throw line too much," Tampa Catholic coach Nancy Kroll said.

In the first game, St. Petersburg Catholic downed Clearwater Central Catholic 54-24. Indiana-bound center Sasha Chaplin had a game-high 22 points for the Barons and displayed all facets of her game.

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