Bill Waugh/Associated Press

Glory Johnson of Webb keeps her emotions in check after the Lady Spartans lost 50-48 to Ensworth in the Division II-AA state girls' basketball championship game in Nashville on Saturday.

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NASHVILLE - Only minutes following Webb School's two-point loss in the Division II-AA girls' state championship game Saturday, Glory Johnson stood smack dab in the middle of Lipscomb University's Allen Arena for the Miss Basketball presentation.

Johnson's tears from the 50-48 loss to Ensworth were fresh and still flowing for everyone to see. The senior covered her face with a white towel.

The reality of the situation had hit her hard like a two-handed chest pass: her storied high-school career had come to a end. And the last page of the script had a twist.

"It's my senior year, and we lost by two in the championship game," said Johnson, who repeated at Miss Basketball. "I can't relive any of it. I've had four years and had four different opportunities. We got one (championship) last year. I was hoping for this one, but we didn't get it."

The 6-foot-3 Johnson didn't play flat for Webb (25-5). She finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. She made eight of 14 shots from the floor and sank eight of 11 free throws. Her two made foul shots with 7.1 seconds left tied the game at 48, and Webb's rally from a seven-point, fourth-quarter hole was almost complete.

But Ensworth's Anna Bowers, the tournament MVP, sank two free throws a second later after a called defensive block on Webb. Johnson missed a shot in the lane at the buzzer.

Johnson's shot won't be how she's remembered, though. The University of Tennessee signee averaged over 19 points and 10 rebounds this season and holds the school's all-time records in each category. She was the 2007 Gatorade state player of the year and won Miss Basketball Saturday over Western Kentucky signee Caitlin House (Briarcest) and Tenisha Townsend (Brentwood Academy).

"I think Glory is one of the best players to ever come through Webb," said junior point guard Jessica Goswitz. "She's always had a bull's-eye on her back. A lot of teams try to focus on her. But, she always looks for the guards and the other girls on the team. Glory is a good team player. She knows it's not just her trying to win the game, and that she needs all the players to have her back."

Bower said it was cool that she had the chance to play against Johnson, a McDonald's High School All-American.

"She's a really good player," said Bower, who scored 22 points. "She definitely made it hard on us. She gets into your head no matter what."

Webb coach Shelley Collier was still able to summon a smile during the postgame press conference when talking about Webb's three seniors: Johnson and guards Meghan Davis and Jessica Walter.

"What a joy it's been," she said of her days coaching them.

She also reminisced over Johnson, on how she struggled from the foul line as a freshman and sophomore but conditioned herself to make them when they mattered most - in state championship games. Collier said Johnson's number could be retired "maybe some day" at Webb, but only if she continues to improve.

"Glory's best basketball is ahead of her," said Collier. "She's developed, but she's going to develop so much more at the next level. I'm excited for her and what she has ahead of her at the University of Tennessee.

"I hope people are going to enjoy watching her the next four years. She's special. She's accomplished a lot. It means a lot to our program. It means a lot to me, personally. And to my family."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.