Lady Dolphins snap 14 game losing streak, 44-40
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of Steve Violette Tobie Bass grabs a rebound Monday night against Escambia.

The Gulf Breeze Lady Dolphin basketball team got a career-high 15 points from Jamie Beeler as they snapped a 14-game losing streak with a 44-40 win over Escambia in the first round of the District 1-4A Tournament Monday at Gulf Breeze.

The Lady Dolphins (3-19) took on top-seed Washington in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday (after the News' deadline).

Gulf Breeze led for most of the game, falling behind briefly in the third quarter. Escambia, who had beaten GBHS three times this season by a total of seven points, got to within two in the final minute, but a free throw by Tobie Bass and another by Deannette Zuniga sealed the victory.

Zuniga made her free throw after a steal in the backcourt, while being saddled with four fouls.

Beeler, who was 5-for-9 from the field, scored the team's first six points - the first on a threepoint play and the second three on one of her two three-pointers.

Beeler's second three-pointer made it an 18-5 game before the Lady Gators scored five straight to cut the lead to eight (18-10) after one quarter.

Photo courtesy of Steve Violette Tayler Challenor drives the baseline Monday against Escambia.

GBHS went 1-for-16 in the second quarter, which allowed Escambia to tie the game 22-22 at the half.

The Lady Dolphins' shooting woes continued into the third quarter as they started the half missing six of their first seven shots. The Lady Gators would take a threepoint lead before an 8-2 lead gave Gulf Breeze a 32-29 lead.

Jordan Smith scored all four of her points in that run.

GBHS led 32-31 with 55.5 seconds left in the third quarter before play was halted for 15 minutes because the gym lights went out. When play resumed, Escambia would hit a free throw to tie the game at 32-32 entering the fourth quarter.

Escambia went nine possessions without a field goal to start the fourth quarter, enough for GBHS to take a six point lead.

The Lady Gators got to within two at 38-36, 40-38 and 42- 40, but each time GBHS kept them from tying the game.

Natalie Alverson and Bass both had eight points, while Zuniga and Smith had four each, Erin Powell and Sarah Munsch had two each and Tayler Challenor one.

Challenor had eight rebounds, six assists and four steals coming off the bench. Munsch had a team-high 11 boards, while Powell had eight and Beeler seven.

Pace 56, Lady Dolphins 24

Erica Wright scored one less point than the entire Lady Dolphin squad in a regular season finale loss Jan. 22.

Zuniga's lone bucket of the game gave the Lady Dolphins a 13-6 lead with a minute and a half to go in the first quarter. But from there, the Lady Patriots would outscore Gulf Breeze 50-11.

Bass led GBHS with six points. Beeler and Powell had four each, while Alverson and Challenor had three each and Munsch and Zuniga had two each.

Alverson had a team-high six rebounds, while Beeler had five. Alverson also had four steals.

Pace JV 47,

Lady Dolphins 32

Emily Chastain had eight points, while Stephanie Wright and Lacie Brothers had seven each as Gulf Breeze finished the season with a 7-12 record.