Lori Fletcher scored 24 points, including 16 in a dominant Navarre first half that produced an 11-point  lead, but the visiting Lady Raiders had to stave off a come-from-behind Lady Gator charge, led by Summer Stewart.

 In the last two minutes, Stewart sank two three-point shots, which pulled Escambia within a point of Navarre, but Kylie Casey sank four clutch free throws that preserved the victory for Navarre.
 “Fletcher played great,” said new Navarre coach David Noles,  but Casey really came through for us in those hectic closing seconds with those big free throws. After Fletcher did so well in the first half, she faced a double team, but she still managed to score eight much-needed points as our offense sputtered a bit. When their girl (Stewart) stole that inbounds pass with two seconds on the clock and she drove to the basket for a layup, I thought we had blown it, but Fletcher, Aisha Henry and Rebeka Padilla all leaped high to thwart the buzzer beating lay-up attempt.

 

For more on this story, see the Nov. 20 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.