Worth County could do no right in the first half. They threw the ball away left and right, to the tune of 12 turnovers in the first half. They tried to penetrate, only for South Nodaway to pack everything in. They tried to shoot outside, only for everything to clank off the rim. The referees were giving South Nodaway all the calls, similar to the NEN game with the Longhorns the week before and letting them play as physical as they wanted to.
Somehow, some way, Worth County was only down 10-3 at the half. They played strong defense against South Nodaway, not allowing them easy looks. Coach Les New said he told his players that it was just a matter of getting some shots to go in. Anna Gladstone had all three of Worth County’s points, all from the line; Worth County had no shots from the field.
By contrast, Worth County was able to settle down in the second half. They only turned the ball over twice, while they finally got some shots to go down. Kaylee McElvain’s free throws put Worth County on the board to make it 10-5, then Miya Wiederholt got loose inside for South Nodaway. But then Regan Allee got Worth County’s first made basket of the game, a 3-pointer with 4:20 left.
South Nodaway was still getting all the calls – on one play, one of the Longhorn players knocked down Regan Allee, but Kaylee McElvain somehow got called for the foul – but Kristin New hit two free throws to make it 12-10 with 1:07 left in the third. Elizabeth Turpin scored from the left side, but Jill Hardy knocked one down in transition to make it 14-12, and Regan Allee hit a 3-pointer to put Worth County ahead for the first time at 15-14 after three. Somehow, despite all that was going wrong, Worth County was in a position to win it.
Finally, Jessi Badell hit Anna Gladstone in the high post to start the fourth quarter. She took on two defenders, made the basket, hit her head hard on the floor, and was obviously shaken up. But she recovered to make the free throw and Worth County was up 18-14.
Kaylee McElvain scored inside after a pass from Regan Allee to make it 20-14, then got a tieup on defense. South Nodaway still had the ball, but then Anna Gladstone, playing with whatever possessed Mason the Hawk the night before, got a steal, ran over Elizabeth Turpin, and threw up a prayer. The ball bounced high off the rim and in, she banked home the free throw, and Worth County was up 23-14.
Anna Gladstone was not done yet as she got a defensive board on the next stop, took on three Longhorns, and hit the deck with her head even harder as the ball went in yet again. She missed the free throw, but then got a tip on defense that caused South Nodaway to break down again; Jessi Badell jumped a pass and got one to Anna Gladstone for her 10th point of the quarter to put Worth County up 27-14.
Jessi Badell hit Kaylee McElvain in the high post and she faked, drove, and banked one off the glass, and then Kristin New added a free throw before Turpin made a meaningless basket at the end as Worth County got the 30-16 victory.
Anna Gladstone had 13 points for the Tigers, including 5 of 7 from the line. Kaylee McElvain and Regan Allee had 6, Kristin New 3, and Jill Hardy 2.
Worth County, with the win, has now won 3 straight and is now 15-7. They now have their second straight winning season, and have their most wins since the 2005-2006 season.
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