BIRMINGHAM — Emma Kate Smith overcame a slow start by catching fire in the fourth quarter, leading Trinity to a 52-48 comeback win over Clements in the Class 3A girls basketball state championship on Friday.
Smith, Trinity’s all-time leading scorer, had just 3 points through three quarters as the Wildcats trailed by 8 entering the fourth. But she knocked down a deep 3-pointer to spark a 23-11 run to close out the game.
Smith finished with 14 points, including three 3-pointers in the final period. Her last one from about 25 feet gave Trinity a 6-point lead with under 2 minutes left to seal the victory.
“We missed a lot of shots that I think we normally hit that allowed them to keep that lead,” Trinity coach Blake Smith said. “Then Emma Kate knocks one down. She got hot and that’s some beautiful stuff.”
It’s the first state title for the Trinity girls after finishing as runner-up five times previously.
Both teams dealt with foul trouble throughout the game. Trinity point guard Maddie Smith picked up four fouls in the first quarter alone.
Clements led 29-21 at halftime. But the Colts went over seven minutes without scoring to open the fourth quarter, allowing Trinity’s comeback.
“Once they got the momentum there wasn’t much we could do,” Clements coach Shane Childress said.
Mya Moskowitz added 13 points, four rebounds and a block for Trinity. She joined Emma Kate Smith on the all-tournament team along with teammate Francie Morris.
Leah Childress led Clements with 15 points and Taylor Farrar scored 12. They were both all-tourney selections.
Emma Kate Smith finished her stellar high school career with a championship. She has over 2,250 career points.
“I didn’t shoot as much in the first half,” she said. “Dad always says, even when I get discouraged and feel like I’m not making them, ‘keep shooting because a shooter’s going to shoot and it’s going to fall eventually.’”