Myrtle Beach answers challenge, surges into Lower State final

What a difference a year makes.

Moments after watching her team tearfully walk off the court last February following a Class AAA third-round loss to Crestwood, Myrtle Beach girls basketball coach Jennifer Dennison issued a challenge that she hoped cut deep into the squad’s skin.

This year’s group of Seahawks would not fall short of its goals due to a lack of mental toughness.

Almost a full calendar year later, the team had not forgotten the test put forth by its coach, and would showcase lessons learned over the past 364 days when it needed it most.

Finding itself in a battle of wills against the same Crestwood squad that eliminated it last season, this time it was Myrtle Beach that made the necessary plays down the stretch, enabling it to come away with a 39-36 victory.

With the win, the Seahawks advance to the Class AAA Lower State final for the first time since 2012. There to meet them Friday night will be Region VII-AAA rival Wilson.

“I told them at halftime, I was tired of having chihuahuas on the court,” Dennison said following the win. “I wanted me some pit bulls, and the pit bulls showed up in the fourth quarter.”

A game largely played in a phone booth, Crestwood’s six-point lead early on was the largest by either team in a contest featuring 12 lead changes and seven ties.

Business picked up in the final period, however, when Seahawks senior point guard Keocia Walker knocked down a shot from deep range, along with being fouled on the play. After tacking on the free throw, Myrtle Beach pulled ahead 32-30 for the team’s first lead since late in the second quarter.

Crestwood was not done, though, pulling back ahead courtesy of buckets by Jayla Bolden and Shaquanda Miller-McCray, pushing the Knights back in front, 34-32.

Out of sorts for much of the night, Seahawks All-State performer Nia Sumpter chose the right time to make her presence felt.

A jumper from the elbow would tie the game at 34 with 2:14 left, following that with a key block on the other end of the floor.

More importantly, Sumpter’s four free throws in the final minute helped put a bow on a Myrtle Beach win.

“I wasn’t on good offensive terms, but coaches told me to pick it up on defense and my offense would come,” Sumpter said. “That’s what happened with my free throws and the shots I made at the end of the game.”

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, somber tears from the previous season were replaced by those of joy and jubilation. Conversely, Crestwood players tried to hide their emotions, eager to leave the court following a hard-fought game that did not go their way.

“We rushed our shots, we weren’t patient enough on the offensive end,” said Crestwood girls basketball coach Tony Wilson. “I told them before the game that we could take the ball to the basket, but we settled for too many jump shots. And as a result we started to rush things.

“Myrtle Beach played a good game in mixing up the triangle and two, but us not being patient was what hurt us most.”

Sumpter was the only Seahawk in double figures, leading the team with 10 points. Cawasha Ceasar led all scorers with 13 points in a losing effort.

Finally able to put the memory of last season’s defeat at the hands of Crestwood to rest, Myrtle Beach now sets its sights on Friday night and a third matchup with region rival Wilson.

The teams split their two games this season, with the Seahawks winning the most recent game in dominant fashion.

None of that will matter come Friday night at the Florence Civic Center, however, and Myrtle Beach players know they must go back to work to keep dreams of a state title alive.

“We have to stay hungry and keep grinding,” Walker said. “It’s going to take every part of our ‘Big 15’ to make it happen.”

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 10:37 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach answers challenge, surges into Lower State final."