By Mike Waters / Contributor
Episcopal School of Dallas won its first-ever SPC girls basketball crown a year ago.
Now, the Eagles can call themselves repeat champions after a hard-earned 36-34 victory over The Woodlands John Cooper School in the title game played at Trinity Valley High School in Fort Worth.
Trailing by seven, 27-20, midway through the third quarter, ESD head coach Devin Darnell reminded his team to stay calm and stay focused.
From there, the Eagles – who fell behind 6-0 to start the game and only momentarily held one-point leads of 9-8 and 15-14 in the first half – mounted their comeback.
Sophomore Britt Reynolds sank a free throw and senior and sister Tatum Reynolds converted two more from the charity stripe. Then sophomore Nahla Whittier had a steal and driving layup at the buzzer that narrowed the gap to 27-25 heading to the final quarter.
“That was really huge for us,” Darnell said. “It gave us momentum.”
Whittier started the fourth period with a pair of free throws that drew ESD to a tie, and a Tatum basket gave the Eagles a two point advantage, culminating a 9-0 run that began with the third-quarter rally.
The Cooper School’s Jordan Sheirr responded with a 3-pointer, leaving the Eagles down by one, but again the Eagles answered; this time with a 7-0 streak to forge a 36-30 lead.
Following Indy Messett’s tying free throw, Britt made two straight baskets and Tatum added another with 57 seconds left.
The Cooper School got a pair of 2-pointers from Sydney Mullins, the latter with 37 seconds remaining, to narrow the ESD lead to 36-34.
The Eagles held on when a Cooper School short-range shot at the buzzer rimmed out, setting off the repeat celebration.
“This one is special because of the repeat,” Darnell said. “The team has worked so hard all season. I’m so very proud of them.”
Whittier finished with a game-high 14 points, including 10 in the first half, when she kept her team close.
“Just a great job by Nahla,” Darnell said. “She kept us in the game.”
“I just wanted to attack the defense,” added Whittier, who was adept with dribble penetration in drawing fouls and converted 8-of-10 free throws. “It was a great job by everybody and a total team effort.”
The Reynolds sisters, meanwhile, scored six points apiece with 11 coming in the second half. “It wasn’t their usual high point production,” Darnell said. “But it was still a great job and the leadership they provide to this team was a big key for us.”
Tatum said it was a great way to finish off her high school career.
“Just amazing,” she said smiling. “The whole team just came together.”
The older sister also relished the time spent playing with her younger sibling.
“We have played our entire lives,” she said. “She has made me a better player.”
Britt echoed Tatum’s comments.
“Winning the championship and realizing this is the last time we get to share this experience is incredible and so very special”.
Top seeded ESD (15-11) had Austin St. Andrew’s, 36-19, in the semifinal to reach the championship.
Tatum pumped in a game-leading 14 points in the victory while Britt and Whittier added 10 apiece.
