Community's Jessica Thompson (21) is sandwiched in the paint by Van Buren County's Rachel Delon and Jalet Grissom (right). (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Who could have expected what would take place over the next 3:18?

The Viqueens didn't make a single field goal and their lone point down the stretch came on a free throw with 37.2 seconds to go as Van Buren County piled on with an 11-0 run to spring them to a 46-37 win for third place.

"We stopped playing defense as hard and our ballhandling in the fourth quarter was terrible," Community coach Allison Layne said. "They started going to their 'go-to' girls and (Jaleta) Grissom just started taking it to us."

Grissom outscored the Viqueens (15-10) herself in the final period 5-4 and finished with a game-high 19 points.

Community can look inward for the self-destruction when the game was on the line as they committed violations under little to no defensive pressure and looked as though they forgot which uniform color their teammates were wearing in passing the basketball.

Their lack of a killer instinct is apparent in the statistics at the foul line. The Purple and Gold went to the stripe but twice over the final 16:41. Conversely, the Eaglettes (16-14) were 9-for-15 during that same time period.

"We got scared when we got behind. That's not something you want to see, not in tournament time," Layne said.

Viqueen Marissa Jones (20) tries the baseline for a path to the basket. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"You've got to keep going to the hole. We stopped shooting the ball in the fourth quarter."

If there's a light at the end of the tunnel for Community, it's that they will be in the opposite side of the bracket from tenth-ranked Forrest in the Region 5-A tournament. However, the local girls do have to travel to District 10-A champion McEwen on Friday night.

"We've got to come focused and ready to play," Layne said. "We've got to do the things to execute our plays like we've been doing in the past."

Andrea Hobson is the straw that stirs the drink for the Warriorettes (17-10). She took home the District 10-A player of the year award last weekend and is a post with a plethora of moves in the paint.

"Anybody that shoots with both hands is going to be hard to guard," Layne said. "We have to key on her. We're going to work on that at practice."

Van Buren County travels to East Robertson (14-12).

Viqueen Kassidy Lane puts up a jumper in the congested paint. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

The Viqueens were up 14-10 after a quarter and enjoyed a 21-13 advantage following a Jessica Thompson bucket with 4:35 left in the opening half. The Eaglettes came roaring back and Porsche McDonald capped a 10-1 run with a field goal 2:14 later.

The lead changed hands five times over the course of the second stanza before the girls entered the half knotted at 27-all.

Aubrey Boyce nailed a 3-pointer for the initial points of the third quarter to give Community a lead they held for the next 10:39 until the late-game debacle.

"We get tired, and we stop doing the things that get us to where we need to be," Layne said. "You've got to keep doing the same things from start to finish.

"That's the first time I think we've led a ballgame in the third quarter and lost. That says a lot for the girls, but at the same time, this is tournament time, you don't do that."

McDonald followed Grissom in the scoring column for the Spencer girls with 13 points.

Marissa Jones and Carly Daffern tallied nine points apiece to lead the Viqueens.

Forrest 69, Middle Tennessee Christian 53: The Lady Rockets secured their third consecutive 9-A championship and improved their record to 26-3.

District player of the year Gaby Bussell led all scorers with 22 points for the Chapel Hill ladies. Tournament MVP Ayla Young contributed 15 and Beth Hawn 13.

The Lady Cougars (21-7) got 19 points from Katie Dunn and 17 from fomer Forrest and Shelbyville Central guard Alex Martin.

Forrest hosts Jo Byrns in the region tourney. MTC gets a visit from White House-Heritage.