Franklin Road Academy girls go cold in 55-42 championship loss to Knoxville Webb

The Franklin Road Academy girls basketball team came up short in its quest for a Division II-A state title Saturday at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena.

It wasn’t the way senior Jessie Heldman wanted to go out, but the Lady Panthers’ 55-42 loss to Knoxville Webb didn’t undo the last four months for the 5-foot-7 all-tournament selection.

► More:High school basketball Division II state championship schedule

“I was really excited to play in the game, and of course I wanted to win,” said Heldman, one of just three FRA seniors. “But just the journey to get here and how close our team grew, that’s really what I got out of this year — not a silver or gold or ball.”

Heldman had a team-high 11 points in the losing effort, which marked the Lady Panthers’ second championship defeat to Knoxville Webb in the last four seasons.

FRA shot 38.5 percent from the field, which included an 0-for-11 effort on 3-pointers, and the Lady Panthers also struggled at the free throw line, connecting on 12 of 22.

“Yeah we had a hard time,” FRA coach Chris Hart said. “We just couldn’t get them to go in. It just didn’t work out.”

Added Heldman, “I don’t think we fully played our game. We all gave the effort that we wanted, we just didn’t get the outcome we wanted. But they can go back and build on it, because I think we have a really strong team coming up.”

The future certainly appears bright for the Lady Panthers (27-5), who’ll welcome back three starters next season, including eighth-grade standout Kennedy Cambridge.

“I didn’t think we were going to get all the way here,” said Cambridge, who finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals. “We had to jump over a few hurdles but we got here, and I’m really excited about the future of this team.”

Division II-A boys

Knoxville Grace 46, Knoxville Webb 44: Grace capped its first season of Division II-A competition with a state title.

Grant Ledford tallied 18 points and six rebounds to lead the Rams (27-7), who managed to hold off the Spartans despite junior Mr. Basketball finalist C.J. Gettelfinger fouling out with a 1:35 remaining.

Gettelfinger, a 6-foot-3 Oakland commitment, finished with 10 points, five assists and a steal for Grace. Chase Ridenour and Myles Rasnick combined for 25 points in the losing effort.for Webb (29-6). 

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8026, and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.