This time, Hickory’s speed against the Chapel Hill girls’ basketball team was too much for the Tigers.

The Tornadoes claimed the 3-A state championship, besting the Tigers 71-57 at Carmichael Arena on Saturday afternoon. It was a rematch of last year’s state title game, which Chapel Hill won. Coach Sherry Norris says Hickory’s frantic pace threw her team off balance.

“We played really nervous today,” said Norris. “The guard, Raziyah (Farrington) and Jessie (Jessica Wall) just didn’t seem to get into the game as soon as possible. We really needed their leadership. I thought we made a little run in the third quarter and that we were going to come back and have a chance, but they outrebounded us.”

The main culprit was Hickory center Sadasia Tipps, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after registering 20 rebounds along with nine points. Danasia Witherspoon led all scorers with 20 points. Chapel Hill was paced by senior Raziyah Farrington, who scored 19 in her final game.

The Tornadoes outrebounded the Tigers 45-27, including 18 offensive rebounds. Norris says Tipps was the X factor.

“She gets her scores because she’s on the backside,’ said Norris. “We worked all week long on boxing her out. She still got 20 rebounds. Unbelievable. She had 11 at the half by herself and we didn’t have but 16 as a team.”

The loss ended Chapel Hill’s 16-game winning streak, but it doesn’t take away from another sensational season.

“I think my girls have really played extremely well this year,” said Norris. “They ended up being 24-3. I’m just so proud of them because they’ve made it to the state championship game three years in a row now. There’s not a lot of schools who can say that.”

Chapel Hill ends the year 24-3, including a perfect 16-0 in the Big Eight Conference.

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