From the Prince George’s (Maryland) Gazette:
Grace Brethren captures PVAC crown
Eagles go overtime to beat Oakcrest in title game
by Robert Klemko | Special to The Gazette
The Grace Brethren School girls basketball team won the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference Championship for the seventh time in the past eight years, edging Oakcrest, 63-50, in overtime on Saturday night at Trinity University in the District.
After losing to Grace Brethren twice during the regular season, Oakcrest led for the final 12 minutes of regulation time until Grace Brethren eighth-grader Jade Scaife nailed consecutive free throws to tie the score at 45-45 with 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Oakcrest led by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter until Grace Brethren seventh-grader and tournament MVP Lynee’ Belton engineered a quick turnaround. Belton scored nine of her team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and shot 11 of 15 from the foul line.
“I have to thank my team for everything,” Belton said. “Our coach [Jeff Perry]’s words turned it around for us in the end. He said that we didn’t come all this way and work this hard for nothing.”
Middle school students are allowed to play for varsity teams in the PVAC, a private school league. Grace Brethren (20-1) will move on to play in the Maryland Christian Schools Tournament against Chapelgate Christian, the only team the Eagles lost to this season.