Wajer beats buzzer, Firecrackers advance at TOC

16U and 15U play in quarter-final games in Suwanee, GA, on Thursday afternoon

In basketball, coaches often break the game into quarters. This game was a classic case of teams dominating play at different times. However, in the end it’s about making plays and Bri Wajer did just that, as she saved the day when an apparent bad pass and turnover was about to happen, Wajer poked the ball loose from a TN Pride player and hit a lay up at the buzzer to give the 16U Firecrackers an exciting 32-30 victory.

Both the 16U and 15U Firecrackers have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Suwanee (GA) Tournament of Champions, and will resume play on Thursday. 16U will meet the Lady Pumas, out of Louisiana, at 3:25 PM. 15U will have to best 1onNone, of Maryland, at 12:10 PM to earn a date in the semis.

The game started the exact opposite of the first game as the Firecrackers stalled on offense and found themselves down 15-2 after 6 minutes of play. That’s when the defensive intensity of the squad picked up immensely as they held the Pride ladies to 2 points the remainder of the half. Alex Hart came off the bench and led the defensive charge, along with Wajer, and Anna DeWolfe the pressure applied to the Tennessee guards was just devastating.  Katie Butler and Faith Blethen contributed major minutes as well on the interior and giving valuable minutes of rest to their teammates. Emily Esposito hit a nice pull up jumper to give the Firecrackers their first lead 16-15 and, while the offense didn’t exactly hit into high gear, Mackenzie Holmes and Dewolfe combined for 11 half time points and the Firecrackers trailed 17-16 at the half.

The second half was similar to the ending of the first half, the defensive intensity continued and DeWolfe knocked two 3 pointers and Danasia Fennie found Wajer on a nice backcourt cut and with about 5:00 minutes to play the Firecrackers seemed in control with a 30-19 lead, culminating a 28-4 run from the start of the game.

However, a team with the talent of the Tennessee program was not going to go away easily. As the Firecrackers decided to take some time off the clock on possessions, turnovers and hesitant play plagued the ladies from Maine through the final minutes and all of a sudden what looked like a sure win was in great doubt.  With 5 seconds to play, Tennessee was at the line down 1 with 2 shots. The first shot bounced off the rim, but the second one sank through the net tying the game at 30

On the inbounds play Emily Esposito threw a pass that went over the outstretched arms of DeWolfe and Holmes and looked to be tracked down by the Tennessee defender, when in stepped Wajer with the strip and lay up from behind to move the Firecrackers into the quarter-final round of the event.