MURFREESBORO — Riverdale built a 23-point lead after one quarter of play on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Warriors had to fight to keep from squandering it.

Riverdale withstood Science Hill’s furious three-quarter comeback to win the school’s third state championship with a 70-55 victory at Murphy Center in the Class AAA state championship game of the TSSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.

“It’s tough to play with a lead like that because you are playing with 16- and 17-year-old kids,” Riverdale coach John Wild said. “They have a tendency from time to time to relax, not on the floor but in practice and in team meetings. Their whole mentality hasn’t been developed yet.

“We told them that (Science Hill) was too good to just go away.”

Riverdale’s championship is the second in three seasons. The Lady Warriors won the 2010 championship and finished runner-up in 2011 to Memphis Central.

The game was a battle between nationally-ranked teams. Riverdale (34-3) is ranked fifth in the ESPN Hoopgurlz Fab 50. Science Hill (38-1) is ranked 17th.

Riverdale senior Shacobia Barbee, a Georgia signee, was named Class AAA Miss Basketball and the state tournament’s MVP. She poured in 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Lady Warriors. She was one of four Riverdale players to finish in double figures.

MTSU commitment Olivia Jones scored 15, Alexa Middleton had 14 and Toyree Watkins added 12. Jones, Middleton, Watkins and Tyisha Petty joined Barbee on the all-tournament team.

Tianna Tarter led Science Hill with 18 points. Keisha Gregory and Gabby Lyon had 13 apiece.

Watkins’ output came on her birthday. She had eight in the first half.

“I tried to get the girls hyped before the game,” Watkins said. “We wanted it real bad. We wanted to win this as bad as anyone here, so I had to do my part.”

Riverdale’s largest lead was 30-5 after Shelbie Davenport’s layup with 7:18 left in the first half.

But Science Hill, who was playing without the injured Shy Copney, began its comeback. The Lady Hilltoppers cut the deficit to 41-25 by halftime and had the deficit to seven with 1:08 left in the third quarter before Middleton pushed it back to 10 with a layup to end the third quarter.

The lead got back to seven at 58-51 with 5:02 left.

Barbee hit two foul shots to push the lead to nine. Riverdale came back with its full-court press after Barbee’s second make. The press was instrumental in Riverdale building the early lead.

Jones scored on a layup off a Barbee steal, which helped spark an 8-0 run to put the game back out of reach.

“We were playing our game when we first came out,” Petty said. “Coach told us we weren’t going to get the calls we wanted.

“I kept looking up at the scoreboard and thought, ‘It seemed like it was just 22-0. But once they cut it to seven we pulled together and kept telling each other to keep it up and play defense.”

Riverdale 70, Science Hill 55

Science Hill 3 22 19 11 – 55

Riverdale 26 15 13 16 – 70

Science Hill: Tarter 18, Reid 2, Gregory 13, Knack 5, Lyon 13, Smith 4.

Riverdale: Petty 6, Barbee 20, Watkins 12, Middleton 14, Jones 15, Davenport 3.

– Tom Kreager, 615-278-5168

Wins second Miss Basketball Award, state tourney MVP

MURFREESBORO — Shacobia Barbee begged to be put back in the game during the final moments of Riverdale’s 70-55 win over Science Hill on Saturday afternoon in the TSSAA Class AAA state championship game.

She saw an opportunity to mark something off her Bucket List.

Barbee took the ball as the last couple seconds ticked off the Murphy Center clock and lofted the ball into the air moments before the Lady Warriors dog-piled at Monte Hale Arena’s center court.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Barbee laughed afterward.

That heave was the last play the 5-foot-11 Georgia signee will ever do while wearing a Riverdale uniform. But it was a grand way to end one of the best girls basketball careers in Rutherford County history.

Barbee was named the Class AAA Miss Basketball winner, her second in as many years, following the championship game. She stood with her mouth wide open as she held the award. Moments earlier, she had glanced toward her friend Bashaara Graves of Clarksville and mouthed the Tennessee signee’s name. Graves had been named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year earlier that week.

“That’s crazy,” said Barbee, who won the Gatorade award last year. “It’s a blessing to get it, but I just felt like Bashaara was going to get it. She got Gatorade Player of the Year this year and nominated to the McDonald’s All-American game and the USA team.

“I felt like this was hers, but I’m blessed to get it. I think this was a great accomplishment for me.”

Barbee finished her career with 2,221 points. She is Rutherford County’s lone two-time Miss Basketball winner. And she’s a two-time state tournament MVP, winning in 2010 and on Saturday.

She came to the state tournament this week relaxed. She cracked jokes after games in the media room. Barbee called herself Maya Moore in jest after she hit two 3s and scored 23 points in a win over Mt. Juliet in the state quarterfinals.

But on Saturday, she was just Shacobia Barbee. And that was all she needed to be.

“I was a hooper to me,” Barbee said. “I was Shacobia today, that’s who I was.

“This is the last time I’m in a Riverdale jersey and last time wearing No. 24.”

Riverdale sophomore Alexa Middleton said Barbee would be missed next season.

“She’s my best friend,” said Middleton as she put her arm on Barbee’s shoulder. “I’m really going to miss her a lot.”

– Tom Kreager, 615-278-5168