Late magic lifts Woodrow Wilson

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - Tamara Sellers doesn't think about three-pointers.

Her focus this season was on improving her defense and working on her ballhandling, her ability to drive to the net.

Three-pointers are the innate part of her game. She doesn't get nervous when shooting them, and she doesn't hesitate in taking them.

Sellers is a scrawny, 5-foot-7 junior guard. And when she shoots the three, it looks natural. It's smooth. There's something about the motion that agrees with her.

"I just set my feet and don't think about it," she said.

That technique made Sellers a hero Wednesday night in Woodrow Wilson's 54-51 win over Immaculate Heart Academy in the opening round of the girls' basketball Tournament of Champions at the Pine Belt Arena.

Sellers hit a three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to tie the game. She hit another early in the fourth quarter to give her team a three-point lead.

And for her grand finale, she shuffled her feet to her left, caught a kick-out pass from Ciarah Bennett, and smoothly, confidently drained a three-pointer at the fourth-quarter buzzer to give her team the win, extending a Cinderella run for Woodrow Wilson.

"I said to myself, 'I need to set my feet and really be prepared for this shot because I want to win this for my team,' " Sellers said. "I couldn't think about the shot. I had to shoot the shot so I could make the shot. I couldn't be nervous."

Sellers led Wilson with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Senior guard/forward Chanelle Perry chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Guard Lyayshia Stevens also had 15 points.

"This team does such a great job of not getting down on themselves," said Wilson coach Bernie Hynson, whose Tigers (24-8) won the state Group 3 championship on Sunday and will move on to the T of C semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Group 2 state champion Manasquan.

Immaculate Heart (21-6) took a 46-45 lead with 1 minute, 16 seconds left. It was the eighth lead change of the half.

But on the Eagles' next three possessions, three Wilson players came up with steals that turned into points at the foul line. Stevens converted a three-point play off her steal with 42 seconds left. Then Shanyah Allen stripped a ball under the basket, was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws. Next, Perry came up with a steal and was fouled, making two free throws to give Wilson a 51-46 lead with 24 seconds left.

On the possession after Perry's made free throws, Immaculate Heart's Jordan Wilmoth hit a quick three-pointer. Then, immediately after Perry missed a pair of free throws that could have iced the game, Immaculate Heart charged down the court and Wilmoth tied the score with seven seconds left.

Wilson called a timeout, and Hynson, knowing that Sellers had the hot hand, designed a play that worked to perfection.

"She made a perfect adjustment to get that shot off," Hynson said. "She took about three or four steps up, and [Bennett] did exactly what we asked her and made the perfect kick.

"I'm so happy for this team right now. This is an amazing thing for Woodrow Wilson girls' basketball."

Woodrow Wilson 16 10 9 19 – 54

Immaculate Heart 9 11 15 16 – 51

WW: Chanelle Perry 15, Lyayshia Stevens 15, Tamara Sellers 17, Ciarah Bennett 2, Shanyah Allen 5.

IH: Lindsay Rogers 17, Jordan Wilmoth 13, Katie Oge 8, Caitlin Roche 10, Alex Mesropyan 3.