In just 8.9 seconds, the Statesboro girls went from an improbable comeback win and clinching a spot in the state playoffs to sitting at home for the rest of the season.
    The Lady Blue Devils erased a 12-point deficit late in the third quarter and took a lead in the final seconds of play, but a layup by Renee Armenta narrowly beat the buzzer as Hephzibah claimed a 53-52 win in Tuesday evening’s Region 3-AAAA tournament quarterfinal.
    Statesboro held a 52-51 advantage with 8.9 seconds to play, but Caja Williams missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity. Blue Devil defenders lost Armenta as she streaked down the court, hauling in a long pass near the arc and laying in the winning margin uncontested with just over one second to play.
    “It’s definitely a tough way to go out,” SHS coach Jeff Seier said. “It was unfortunate miscommunication on our part. Those things happen, but this one certainly happened at the wrong time.”
    While The Lady Rebels (17-8) clinched a spot in the upcoming state tournament and moved on to the region semifinals, the Devils (16-8) will see their entire roster miss out on the state playoffs for the first time in their respective careers.
    As heartbreaking as the loss was, it was a testament to Statesboro’s grit and determination that the final margin was so close.
    Hephzibah’s Shashanna Miller (15 points), Shannon Wimberly (10 points) and Deaundra Jordan (10 points) were all on fire throughout the night. Their hot shooting from behind the arc staked the Rebels to a lead midway through the second quarter and spurred the advantage into double digits as the third quarter wore on.
    As Wimberly eyed a free throw in the third period, Seier tried to keep things as simple — yet urgent — as possible for his team.
    “Ain’t no tomorrow,” Seier nonchalantly said to his bench as Wimberly’s free throw swished through the net.
    Taking those words to heart, the Devils dug down and pushed back. Statesboro suddenly looked less like the team that had dropped its final three regular season games and more like the squad with a Sweet Sixteen and two Elite Eight appearance in the last three years.
    Shanikwa Buie (15 points) connected from inside and, after a quick steal, Tanice Johnson followed suit. Buie notched a put-back bucket and a 3 by Kyera Whitaker — who netted 14 points in her final game as a Blue Devil — trimmed the Hephzibah lead to 44-42 heading into the final quarter.
    “I can’t say enough about our girls,” Seier said. “They never quit. They kept fighting the whole way. We didn’t come out on top, but you have to be proud of their effort.”
    For most of the fourth quarter, it looked as though SHS was going to complete the improbable comeback. Whitaker tied the game with a layup early in the period and the Devils led by as much as 48-44.
    But Statesboro couldn’t extend the lead during a 5:49 Hephzibah scoring drought and Miller tied the game on a deep 3 with 3:15 to play.
    The Rebels took a one point lead in the final minute and Statesboro missed a short jumper, but Whitaker managed a steal while falling to the ground. She found fellow senior Williams who made a circus shot under pressure to give the Devils the lead that just barely slipped away in the waning seconds.
    “You could tell how bad our seniors wanted it,” Seier said. “That was a great play from (Whitaker and Williams). It would have been great if that’s how things ended.”
   
    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9404.