What Hallie Allen’s game-winning 3-pointer meant for South Gibson, beating Chester County

MURFREESBORO – Hallie Allen knew the ball was coming to her.

In South Gibson’s 37-34 win over Chester County in the TSSAA girls basketball state tournament Class 3A quarterfinals, Allen was in charge of providing the final blow in a slugfest.

South Gibson called its play named “baseline” and Allen, a senior guard, caught a pass from sophomore guard Karson Dunn. She shot it from inside the South Gibson bench and hit the game-winning 3-pointer.

“With 3.5 seconds on the clock (coach Catie Embrey) called the play,” Allen said. “I knew the shot’s for me, I took a deep breath and I was like, ‘It’s going in.’”

Allen, who led South Gibson with 13 points, was one of the first people Embrey met when she took over the South Gibson job in 2021.

“There was never a doubt in my mind who I wanted to take that shot,” Embrey said. “It’s been like that for three, four years now. She’s the mule that carries the weight.”

The second the ball went in the air, most of the South Gibson faithful knew it was going in, too.

Dunn did have a split-second of doubt, however.

“In my head, I was like, ‘Please go in,’” Dunn said. “But as soon as it left her hand, I was like, ‘It’s going in.’”

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The shot swished through the net with .4 seconds left on the clock.

South Gibson’s victory moved the team into the state semifinals for the second year in a row – the only two times the program has been in the TSSAA state tournament.

The Hornets (21-15) play against Upperman in the semifinals at 8:45 p.m., Friday, at MTSU’s Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. Jariyah Williamson led Chester County with 13.