Gap Moves On To State Title Game With 52-40 win Over Brunswick

STUARTS DRAFT – Load up the bus and the cars. Buffalo Gap's girls basketball team is going to Richmond.

The Bison's two years of bad karma in the Class 1 state semifinals came to a rousing end Friday night at Stuarts Draft High School after a second victory over the Brunswick Bulldogs in a week, this time by a 52-40 count in a physical, and at times sloppy, showdown.

Gap (22-4) had suffered excruciating one-point losses to Rappahannock County and Brunswick in 2023 and 2024, respectively, in the semifinals after leading both games in the fourth quarter. The Bison made sure it wasn't three times, especially when it came to the Bulldogs, a team they had handily beaten in the regional championship back-to-back years, including 55-32 last Friday at Louisa County High School.

The semifinal victory cleared the roadblock to VCU's Siegel Center for the state championship next Friday at 12:30 p.m. where George Wythe (26-3) is waiting. The Maroons surprised once-beaten Honaker 34-31 in Friday's other state semifinal to earn their trip.

The trip back to the Siegel Center comes full circle for Gap seniors Hannah Coffman, Karah Richie and Rachael Carter. As freshmen, they came in at the beginning of this magical four-year run for the program. They were part of the team that lost to Honaker 63-29 in the 2022 title game.

But truth be told, the trio thought it was going to happen the previous two years but not necessarily this season.

“I thought it was going to happen a long time ago,” Coffman said. “Everyone thought we were going to be back there the last two years, but didn't think we had much of a chance this year with what we lost. Even as a team at the start of the season we had doubts. It means everything to be back at Richmond for one last time.”

Unlike the Bison's previous four postseason games, which they won by an average of 40 points, earning the Richmond trip was no picnic. The Bulldogs were a completely different team than the one that got shellacked by 23 points last week. Brunswick actually led once, after not leading last week, at 14-13 early in the second quarter before the Bison went on a pivotal 16-5 run to get the breathing room they needed by halftime.

“We hadn't been challenged in the postseason until tonight,” Buffalo Gap head coach Phillip Morgan said. “We had some big shots in big moments in the second quarter after they took the lead. We responded and did a great job during that stretch.”

“We knew it wasn't going to be a repeat of last week. They came in with a great game plan, and I could see shades of last year after the first quarter. I am glad how everyone stepped up,” he said.

Most of the game-breaking burst came with starter Kayleigh Hemp on the bench with three fouls, but freshmen Bailey Tribble and Lexi Hemp picked up the slack under the big spotlight.

After Brunswick used a 6-0 run by senior Lakera Hill bridging the first and second quarters for the 14-13 lead, the Bison said enough is enough.

Kayleigh Hemp had a stickback and Tribble buried two free throws after being fouled on an offensive rebound to give Gap the lead back for good at 17-14.

Richie had four points and Lexi Hemp bombed a 3 after a turnover for a 24-16 advantage at the 1:20 mark.

Coffman completed a three-point play and Tribble had a second-chance basket just before the buzzer for a 29-19 halftime margin.

The 10-point lead was redemption for letting a nine-point margin slip away in the first quarter. The Bison appeared to be in repeat mode from last week, scoring the game's first seven points, which came after the teams collectively had five turnovers before any points were scored.

Kayleigh Hemp ignited the early run with a 3-pointer following an offensive rebound and took a feed from Coffman for a layup after a Brunswick mistake.

Gap gained an 11-2 lead on back-to-back baskets from Carter, but missed opportunities kept the Bison from extending the cushion, and the Bulldogs clawed their way back despite 12 first-quarter turnovers. The Bison helped out with eight of their own.

Coffman admitted a seed of doubt from the last two years started to creep in.

“During the quarter break, I thought about last year, and said 'we aren't losing to this team again.'”

The second-quarter momentum carried over to the second half. The Bison were able to play looser and weren't seriously challenged.

Brunswick opened the third quarter with a pair of free throws from Hill, but the Bulldogs never got closer.

The Bison scored the next seven points, capped by Coffman's three-point play for a 36-21 lead at the 5:12 mark.

Gap received a huge boost off the bench later in the quarter when sophomore Elissa Caricofe, who had hit a 13-footer late in the first quarter, had consecutive baskets at the rim after the Bulldogs had cut the deficit to 37-25.

Playing in the Stuarts Draft gym suits Caricofe just fine. She had a career-high 12 in a three-point loss in February, which was also the last time the Bison suffered a setback before their current eight-game heater.

“I had a lot of adrenaline flowing,” she said. “I was super excited. It was a big game and I just wanted to do my job out there. I guess I am comfortable playing on this court.”

The Bison led 43-32 after three, and Tribble sealed the deal with consecutive baskets to begin the fourth period. The freshman finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

“Bailey has really been peaking the last few weeks,” Morgan said. “She's able to score, rebound and play defense. She had a super game for us tonight.”

Morgan said the team's balance was a big key in gaining the win.

“They were face-guarding Hannah, and we had other girls step up and make shots,” he said. “When that happened, it loosened up the defense. We have the ability for people to come in and do good things. We never know who will do what on a given night.”

Coffman finished with a team-high 13 points despite being the focal point of Brunswick's defense. Kayleigh Hemp added 10. Carter had eight and Caricofe six. Coffman also had six rebounds and four steals, while Carter pulled down six boards.

Brunswick had only three players score, which isn't a recipe for success at this level. Hill, who had 19 of the team's 32 last week, poured in a game-high 28, including four 3s. Isavela Toledo and Brianna Simmons had six apiece.

BRUNSWICK (40) – Toledo 2 0-0 6, Hill 9 6-10 28, Simmons 3 0-2 6, Smith, Firman, Walker, Smith, Odom, Davis, TOTALS 14 6-12 40.

BUFFALO GAP (52) – L.Hemp 1 0-0 3, Richie 1 2-4 4, R.Showalter 0 0-2 0, Tribble 3 2-2 8, K.Hemp 3 3-4 10, Carter 4 0-0 8, Coffman 4 5-8 13, Caricofe 3 0-0 6, Woods, Pierce, TOTALS 19 12-20 52.