Choctaw girls fall in Shootout final

By ADAM PRUIETT

adamp@nwfdailynews.com

FORT WALTON BEACH — Choctawhatchee girls basketball coach Don Brown gave a little insight into the quality of Pensacola.

He noted that Danielle Williams, who gave a definitive MVP performance in the Playground Area Shootout finals Saturday at Choctawhatchee, used to come off the bench.

“That lets you know how much talent they’ve got on that basketball team,” Brown said after the Indians were deprived of the championship for a second year in a row, this time falling 51-29 to the Class 4A No. 2 Tigers.

Williams dominated the paint for Pensacola, coming up just one point shy of the Indians’ team total. She pumped in a game-high 28 points, including 15 in the first half as the Tigers built a 27-18 halftime lead, and snatched 13 rebounds.

Choctawhatchee advanced to the title game of the Shootout for the second straight year.

“Our kids played well the whole tournament,” Brown said. “We had a few lazy, lackadaisical times, but I thought our kids did a good job this whole tournament.”

Williams had nine of Pensacola’s numerous offensive rebounds. The boards were a problem for Choctawhatchee, and the Indians struggled against the Tigers’ fullcourt pressure.

Francheska Bowman led the Indians (12-5) with 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. She was voted to the all-tournament team along with Christen Cardreon, who had five points and three steals in the title game.

Choctawhatchee hung tight with Pensacola for most of the first half as Rah McCorvey’s drive brought the Indians to within 16-15. The Tigers took control at that point, using an 11-3 run heading into intermission that was highlighted by a 3-pointer and two traditional three-point plays by Williams.

“We played pretty good in the first half. We just had a few breakdowns right at the end of the half,” Brown said. “I thought we did a pretty good up until then. They got a few easy buckets, and that hurt us a little bit.”

Choctawhatchee never got closer than seven points in the second half, although the Indians were within striking distance until Bowman fouled out with 4:23 left in the fourth quarter. Down 35-28 at that point, Choctawhatchee only managed one more point the rest of the way while Pensacola’s lead swelled.

Meki Qualls, an all-tournament selection for Pensacola, grabbed 11 rebounds and had eight points, and Jasmine Richardson added 11 points.

“They’re loaded,” Brown said. “They’ve got a really good team.”

Pensacola 11 16 4 20 - 51

Choctaw 7 11 4 7 - 29

PENSACOLA (51)

Tierisha Yates 2, Williams 28, Richardson 11, T’Keyah Yates 2, Meki Qualls 8. Totals: 17 1 14-25 51.

CHOCTAW (29)

D.J. Taylor 3, Francheska Bowman 10, Rah McCorvey 7, Christen Cardreon 5, Valerie Dixon 2, Christine Reading 2. Totals: 9 2 5-12 29.