By NICK WILLIAMS | Tribune staff Published: February 22, 2013 Updated: February 22, 2013 - 6:28 PM

In the waning seconds of her team's Class 7A state semifinal girls basketball game Friday against Gainesville Buchholz, Freedom High senior forward Faith Woodard stared at the scoreboard, a glimmer of hope still dancing in her eyes.

Until the very end, Woodard and the Patriots battled Buchholz for an opportunity to play in the state title game, but time proved to be the enemy for Freedom down the stretch as its dream season came to an end in a 79-73 defeat.

Buchholz took a 58-39 lead with just more than 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Just as a comeback seemed impossible, Freedom went on a 29-14 run that extended into the fourth quarter to bring them within five with just more than a minute remaining. Senior Whitney Ivey Turntine cut Buchholz's lead to 72-67 on a 3-point basket, but the Patriots were forced to foul to stop the clock.

Buchholz (26-4) made 6 of 8 free throws in the final 55 seconds to seal the win and advance to the state championship.

Freedom, which was making its first state tournament appearance in program history, finished its season 25-4.

"A lot of teams down 19 in the state semifinals would have quit," said Freedom coach Laurie Pacholke.

Woodard, a 6-foot-2 forward who will play at Georgetown, played all 32 minutes and finished her high school basketball career with a double-double, leading the Patriots with 26 points and 15 rebounds along with three blocks. Sophomore Taylor Emery added 21 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and eight rebounds.

"Coming to this school with this team and this amount of talent, it was definitely something that I'll never forget," said Woodard, fighting back tears. "To know that we got this far, it means everything."

In the most recent state poll, Freedom was ranked the third overall best team in 7A while Buchholz ranked No. 7 according to the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches. On Friday, however, Buchholz's up-tempo style and defensive pressure disrupted Freedom's game plan.

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Freedom falls in girls basketball state semifinals