Gulf Coast Storm Surge

Tallahassee Eagles get blitzkrieged by Lady Commodores in Semifinals of FCSAAs

Written By Ariel Bedford

TCC Women’s Basketball made many strides within the 2016-17 season. It didn’t show vs Gulf Coast State, however, sending an immediate and painful jolt into a team brimming with confidence heading to Ocala. 

Losing by thirty and not displaying much of the intense, suffocating defense that allowed them to amass 23 victories on the year-including a resounding 97-86 win over Palm Beach State to open the state tournament-Tallahassee finds themselves looking for answers to what was a rather dismal performance against a familiar Panhandle Conference rival. 

An unfortunate result somewhat dampers an overall positive post-season experience for the team, which saw their biggest star make history in tying a school record for points scored in their initial matchup and become the new all-time leading point-maker for the school. 

“Our defense [versus Gulf Coast State] wasn’t the defense I know we can play...Our key players weren’t hitting shots, I mean-we just beat ourselves,” stated Guard Lawriell Wilson shortly after the game. 

Despite taking 80 shots, TCC only could muster a total of twenty-six field goals in a lackluster showing, which proved to be the deciding factor. Along with a barrage of buckets from Lady Commodores Taylor Emery and Maria Castro, who finished the contest with 35 and 24 points, respectively. 

Lack of effective dribble penetration for open looks offensively and a matador-esque defense versus driving ballhanders proved to seal the Eagles’ fate in Patriot Gym just before the Championship Game, which Gulf Coast moves onto versus fellow Panhandle powerhouse Chipola College.

TCC may still be able to get to Texas to try their luck at Nationals, but will need to swallow pride and learn quickly from their worse loss of the year in order to compete in Lubbock.