By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

She was ready for the moment.

Callaway’s Kierra Jackson hit the go-ahead basket with three seconds left in Friday’s game against rival Heard County to lift her team to a 47-45 victory in a Region 5-AA showdown.

Jackson caught a pass between a pair of Heard County defenders, and she hit the short jump shot to give Callaway the lead.

Jackson then made a defensive play on the other end, getting between a Heard County player and the basket to not allow a potential game-tying shot, and Callaway (9-8 overall) escaped with the two-point win to improve to 6-2 in the region.

Callaway head coach Deyano Martin called the play for Jackson, and the senior responded with the biggest bucket of the season so far.

“At first, I was nervous, but I knew I could make that shot,” Jackson said.

Heard County did a terrific job of getting back into the game after trailing by nine late.

Down 45-36, Heard County went on a 9-0 run that was capped by a Sophia Lona basket with 31 seconds left.

The Lady Cavaliers ran most of the clock down when they got the ball back, leading to Jackson’s clutch shot.

Jasmine Dukes delivered a text-book lob pass to Jackson, who took her time and made the basket.

“It was perfectly executed,” Martin said. “It was a great pass by Jasmine, and a great catch and shot.”

That was part of a big night for Jackson, who led her team with 25 points.

Gabrielle Johnson added six points, and post player Camryn Stargell, who had missed more than a month with an injury, contributed five points.

Callaway led 25-24 at the half, and it was on top 39-32 heading to the fourth quarter.

When Jackson scored after pulling down an offensive rebound, Callaway led 45-36 with a little more than four minutes to play.

Beginning with a Morgan Kay 3-pointer with 3:50 to play, Heard County was off and running.

When Sophia Long scored with 31 seconds left, Callaway’s once seemingly comfortable lead was gone, and the score was deadlocked at 45-45.

After a timeout, the Lady Cavaliers ran the play Martin called, and Jackson’s timely shot gave the home team the big win.

“I felt like we got out-hustled at times, and defensively we didn’t play that great,” Martin said. “But we did what we needed to do.”

Callaway visits Spencer on Tuesday.

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