WEBSTER COUNTY, KY (1/25/12) – University Heights Academy won their 14th straight game, topping Webster County in a heartbreaking 61-57 overtime loss in the finals of the Second Region ‘All A’ Classic Tournament Saturday night at Dawson Springs High School.
Webster had led by as much as 11 points in the third quarter (41-30) but saw the Lady Blazers used a 12-3 run to close the gap to 45-42 with 6:24 left in the game. Kolbi Edens gave WCHS some breathing room with a 3-pointer but UHA (17-1) regained the momentum and took the lead on a 10-5 run sparked by center Meg Sterling to make it 52-50. Edens led the WC scoring charge with 16 points. The Lady Trojans tied the game on its next possession on a layup from Mariah Herrera, setting up the final minute and the ball in the Lady Blazers’ hands. But two timeouts and two missed shots in the paint later, the game was headed into overtime and the score tied at 52-all. Brooke Ross, who finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, drew first blood in the extra period with a free throw. That proved to be their last lead of the game as UHA got a jumper and free throw from Cache Richardson to go on top 55-53. Herrera answered at the other end with a layup to knot the score at 55-55. That set up the winning basket with just 50 seconds, a leaner in the paint from the 6-foot Sterling for the go-ahead basket. The sophomore proved she will be a force to reckon with in the future, blocking 10 WCHS shots in the fourth quarter and overtime combined. A breakaway layup from Danniaka Prater put UHA up 59-55 with just 11 seconds to go. After a Webster basket and foul, Prater sealed the victory with a pair of free throws. Darrian McNary was also in double figures for Webster with 10 points.
Webster County 56
Livingston Central 48
Webster County head coach Christina Whitsell got just what she was looking for last Thursday in the semi-final round of the ‘All A’ Classic Regional tournament at Dawson Springs. A very balanced scoring attack and good free throw shooting in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory. Trailing 37-29 going into the fourth quarter, a scrappy Livingston Central squad opted to put the Lady Trojans at the free throw line for most of the period in hopes of missed shots and a come-from-behind victory. But the Lady Trojans were equal to the task, sinking 13-of-20 from the stripe in the final 6:01 to seal the win and spot in the ‘All A’ championship game on Saturday night.
Webster’s scoring came from all angles from the opening tip as Mariah Herrera scored four points in the first quarter and Darrian McNary, Christian Papineau and Bailey Townsend added two points each. Livingston (15-3) led at the first break 11-10 but the difference in the game came in the second quarter as the Lady Trojans used a 16-9 scoring advantage to gain control of the game. McNary came off the bench to spark the run with eight of her team-high 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Hayleigh Dame nailed a jumper in the paint to open the period, followed by a 3-pointer from McNary. Free throws from Herrera and Dame finished off the 7-0 spurt. Holding a 26-20 lead at intermission, the Lady Trojans outscored Livingston 11-9 in the third quarter, thanks to a 3-pointer from Kolbi Edens and four points from Brooke Ross. That set up the final quarter where the Webster girls cashed in at the free throw line to earn the victory. Ross and Herrera both scored nine points in the win while Papineau added seven.
Edens and Towsnend scored six points each while Dame chipped in with five points. Kristen Keeney completed the scoring with one free throw.
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