LAKELAND -- Down by eight points to Boca Ciega with less than 1:20 left in the FHSAA Girls' Class 5A state semifinal at the Lakeland Center on Wednesday night, Nova pulled off an improbable comeback and is headed to its first state championship game.

After missing her first free throw, guard Tonya Aaron sank the second free throw with two seconds left to give the Titans a 42-41 stunner and vault them into the 5A championship game against Lake Howell on Friday night.

''I tried to calm myself down after the first miss,'' said Aaron, who scored 11 points. ``I just thought of practice shooting free throws. In games like this you have to have a short memory. We're going to the state championship.

``It's a dream come true. Every player thinks of moments like this.''

Aaron helped the Titans rally by sinking a three-pointer with 1:14 left to cut the Pirates lead to 41-36.

After that shot, it became a free-throw shooting contest in the final minute.

Nova made five free throws and Boca Ciega made none.

It appeared to be a Nova rout early on.

Titans 6-2 forward Jassany Williams dominated from the outset and Boca Ciega could not score until there was less than two minutes left in the first quarter.

Williams finished with a triple-double of 17 points, 17 rebounds and 11 blocks.

Behind Williams, who posted seven points, four rebounds and five blocks in the first eight minutes, Nova took a 9-0 lead to start the game.

Boca Ciega didn't score its first points until there was 1:52 left in the first quarter. Guard Latavia Dempsey hit a three-pointer for the Pirates.

Nova led 16-7 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Boca Ciega guard Tory Stephens scored seven of her team's 14 points to pull the Pirates to within one point at halftime, 22-21.

Nova scored only six points in the quarter going 2 of 11 from the field.

The Titans would score only six points in the third quarter going 1 of 8 from the field and 4 of 10 from the foul line.

TRACK AND FIELD

Maya Pressley lit up as cameras started clicking inside the Coconut Creek Media Center on Wednesday morning.

Being the center of attention is nothing new to the reigning 4A state champion in the high jump and aspiring model.

Flanked by school officials, her father Michael Pressley Sr. and uncle Cornelius Pressley, the Cougars senior and 2008 Miami Herald's Broward Girls' Track Athlete of the Year signed a letter of intent with NCAA track power Auburn.

''It's like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders,'' Pressley said. ``I really enjoyed my visit. Auburn has some down-to-earth people. Their high jump girl was real cool. She jumped 5-10 as a freshman and is now leading the SEC. They do a great job with their jumpers.''

Pressley whittled a list of 50 offers down to Auburn, UCF and Texas Tech before settling on the Tigers after an official visit Feb. 16. Pressley, who has a 4.02 GPA, will major in communications.

After back-to-back runner-up finishes at the 2006 and 2007 state finals, Pressley broke through last May to win the high jump title by clearing 5-8. Pressley's personal best (5-10) came two months earlier at the BCAA North Central prelims.

Pressley accounted for 20 points at the state meet after finishing third in the long jump and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles. The score was better than 49 other teams.

At the National Junior Olympic Championships in Omaha, Neb., last summer, Pressley cleared 5-8 to win the title.

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