1 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea Head Coach Jason Harlow rallies his troops during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
2 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Mackenzie Titus (44) follows through on a free throw during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
3 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Ellen Fleming (32) plays defense during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
4 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Callie Smith (20) dribbles the ball during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
5 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Pressley Rains (23) shoots a three pointer during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
6 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Ellen Fleming (32) passes to a teammate during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
7 of 22
Kamp Fender
The Carver cheerleaders form a pyramid during a timeout of a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
8 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Pressley Rains (23) is seen through defenders during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
9 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Jason Harlow gives words of encouragement during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
10 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Katie Goss (45), Sydney Schwallie (4) and Addie Lewis (12) cheer on their teammates during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
11 of 22
Kamp Fender
An American flag hangs behind a basket at the South end of Garrett Colesium during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
12 of 22
Kamp Fender
The Chelsea Hornets take the floor prior to a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
13 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Mackenzie Titus (44) is announced as a starter to cheers from teammates and fans during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
14 of 22
Kamp Fender
Players from both teams fight fro a rebound following amissed free throw during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
15 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Pressley Rains (23) makes an entry pass during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
16 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Callie Smith (20) makes a defender miss during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
17 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Mackenzie Titus (44) splits two defenders during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
18 of 22
Kamp Fender
The Chelsea Hornets break a huddle during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
19 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
20 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea defenders Pressley Rains (23), Ellen Fleming (32) and Suzanne Ridgway set up a full court press during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
21 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Pressley Rains (23) shoots an uncontested layup during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
22 of 22
Kamp Fender
Chelsea's Mackenzie Titus (44) prepares to leap for the jump ball during a Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinal game between Chelsea and Carver-Montgomery on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. (Kamp Fender)
MONTGOMERY — The Chelsea High School girls basketball team’s journey from last year’s five-win team to the Class 6A Southeast Regional semifinals of this year’s state basketball tournament ended on Friday with a 69-33 loss to Carver-Montgomery.
“We kind of ran into a buzzsaw,” first-year head coach Jason Harlow said.
The dual threat of Wolverines junior Kristin Brown and sophomore Bre’Anna Rhodes dominated the Hornets’ full-court press, with Brown scoring 27 points, including six three-pointers. Rhodes put up 16 points and six rebounds. As a team, Carver-Montgomery made nine three-pointers and outrebounded Chelsea 51-26.
Chelsea’s only lead came in the early minutes and Rhodes quickly took over for Carver, grabbing a rebound, scoring, blocking a Chelsea shot and scoring again on back-to-back plays.
Chelsea (16-13) was 9-of-48 from the field, struggling to find points against a quick Wolverines defense.
The Hornets were led in scoring by junior Pressley Rains, who had 13 points. Sophomore Mackenzie Titus had six points, four rebounds and five blocks for Chelsea.
“We would’ve liked to play better,” Harlow said. “I don’t think it discredits what we did over the course of this season. … We’re looking in the future of Chelsea basketball and building this program into perennial contenders.
“Hopefully, 10 years from now, when we’ve had a good run of success, we can say that this is the team that got this started for us,” Harlow said.
Chelsea was without its leading scorer, Jordan Parker, and was coming off a 5-22 season. Despite the hardships, the Hornets were one of the last 16 teams standing for the first time in a long time, Harlow said.
“Being 5-22 last year, losing two leading scorers and two leading rebounders, constantly being told you can’t do this, or you can’t do that, they just have tremendous character and they’ve been a joy to coach this year,” Harlow said.
The loss will sting, but there is much to be proud of for the Lady Hornets after Harlow’s first season, he said.
“I think the more time that’s removed, and we’re able to look back on some of the things that we did, we’re going to be really proud of it, even though this was a tough pill to swallow,” Harlow said. “I’m just really proud of the girls.”