Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Free Throws Doom Tiger Girls Against North Andrew

Worth County's girls, after a promising start to the season, dropped their third straight game, this time to North Andrew 50-47 in overtime. In each loss, it seemed like something different hurt the Tigers. In the Stanberry game, it was turnovers. Against Maryville, Worth County struggled on the boards, but was somehow right with Maryville until they dropped a 3-pointer on Worth County that made their lead six with two minutes left, forcing Worth County to foul and put them on the line. Against North Andrew, it was free throws, with the Tigers going 10 for 23 from the line.

The Tigers threw the ball away five times in the first four minutes, throwing the ball all over the gym, but somehow, they were right with the Cardinals despite losing Anna Gladstone for much of the first quarter due to foul trouble. The Cardinals graduated nearly everybody, but simply reloaded with standout Jentry Copple returning, along with post players Emily Cole and Alaina Officer and sharpshooters Malayna Briner and Cambiran Roush. But after trailing for much of the first quarter, Worth County fought back to tie it at 11 to close out the first quarter.

Worth County kept right with the Cards through the second quarter, but in the third, the Cards threatened to take control, moving ahead 30-24. All of a sudden, Worth County, which had been blown out the last few years to North Andrew, realized they could play ball with North Andrew and fought back as Kristin New hit a drive and Anna Gladstone, battling three fouls, hit a free throw and added another tally after a Jessi Badell tip and steal to make it 30-29.

Jentry Copple's coast to coast drive made it 34-29 again and Badell countered with a free throw to make it 34-30, but Anna Gladstone picked up her fourth foul late in the third. Worth County was still down 37-32 early in the fourth, but then Gladstone came back. Regan Allee hit two free throws, Jessi Badell hit from the right wing off a pass from Gladstone, Kaylee McElvain hit from the high post off a pass from Kristin New, and Jessi Badell hit Regan Allee for three to put Worth County in front 41-37.

But then Roush drained one from the top of the key to keep North Andrew's chance alive with 2:34 left. Anna Gladstone's putback made it 43-40 and Cole stepped outside for what should have been a tying three, but her foot was on the line with 1:21 left and Worth County was still up one. Jessi Badell missed a 12-footer, but Regan Allee stripped Copple and hit one of two to make it 44-42. Copple missed a prayer, but Kristin New missed a 1-1 and Kaylee McElvain fouled Officer battling for the rebound. Officer hit both free throws to tie it up at 44 with 30 seconds left. Worth County played for the last shot, but Regan Allee's guarded three was up and over the top, sending the game to overtime.

North Andrew took advantage of an unforced turnover as Copple was out of control, but Worth County bailed her out and put her on the line. She hit both free throws, but Kaylee McElvain tied it up again with 1:54 left with a shot from the left side. McElvain's free throw put Worth County up 47-46, but Alaina Officer's free throw tied it again at 47.

With 38 seconds left, Anna Gladstone drove on Copple and another red shirt and drew Copple's fifth foul on a charge/block call that could have gone either way. But she missed both free throws and North Andrew set up a perfect high-low lob to Emily Cole, who successfully converted a three point play with 16 seconds left; Kristin New's contested three was off the mark for Worth County.

Regan Allee had 11 points for Worth County. Jessi Badell, Kaylee McElvain, and Anna Gladstone all had 9, while Kristin New had 8.

Regan Allee had 2 blocks, while Jessi Badell had 1.

Regan Allee had 10 boards. Jessi Badell and Kaylee McElvain had 7, Kristin New and Anna Gladstone had 4, and Jill Hardy had 2.

Jessi Badell had 5 assists. Kristin New had 4, Anna Gladstone 2, and Jill Hardy and Merrideth Spiers 1.

Jessi Badell had 6 tips. Anna Gladstone, Kristin New, and Regan Allee had 3, Merrideth Spiers 2, and Jill Hardy 1.

Anna Gladstone had 6 steals. Kristin New had 4, Jessi Badell 3, Kristin New and Kaylee McElvain 2, and Jill Hardy, Megan Cassavaugh, and Merrideth Spiers each had 1.

The boys fell victim to an 89-39 massacre to a reloaded North Andrew squad, which proceeded to run up the score in the second half after they were already up 52-12 at half. They remain with one lone win for the year.

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