Kami Gibson’s Free Throws Lift Shamrocks

Kami Gibson’s free throws in the final 48 seconds of the game helped North Harrison hold off North Nodaway Wednesday and secure the 32-28 win, North Harrison’s first of the year. With both teams searching for wins this year, the game was hard-fought; all of the statistics were even. It was free throws that were the difference in the game, with North Harrison making 11 for the night, while North Nodaway made 3 for 14 from the line.

North Harrison got a rare offensive outburst to start the game as Camden Castleberry hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw while Sara Clawson added another to make it 7-0 with 5:18 left in the first.
The game settled into a defensive standoff after that, with North Nodaway chipping away the rest of the quarter. Kandace Damgar hit a 3-pointer and scored off a Jacquelyn Cline steal to cut the deficit to 7-5 before Cline hit an NBA 3-pointer at the start of the second to put North Nodaway in front 8-7.
The game was tied again at 11 before Emma Craig hit a couple of free throws and Ashlynn Gilpatrick hit a 3-pointer to make it 16-11 with 3:22 left. The Shamrocks led 19-13 at the half.

Despite mounting foul trouble for North Nodaway, they fought back to 19-16 when Kandace Damgar hit a 3-pointer. Jayliegh Robins countered with two free throws and Sara Clawson hit a 3-pointer to push it back to 8.

Damgar struck again for North Nodaway, and then Kelsi Barcus converted a 3-point play for the Mustangs to get the deficit down to 24-21 after three.

The defensive standoff continued until the 2:07 mark, when Jacquelyn Cline’s drive cut it to 28-26. North Harrison got a back court violation, but then North Nodaway traveled before they could set up a shot to tie or take the lead. North Harrison ran the clock all the way down to 1:14 before an intentional foul allowed Camden Castleberry to hit a free throw and keep the ball in North Harrison’s hand, up 29-26.

With 52 seconds left, North Harrison threw it away, but North Nodaway turned it right back over. Finally, the Mustangs put Kami Gibson, who had two points all night, on the line. However, Gibson made both free throws to make it two possessions of 31-26 with 48 seconds.

North Harrison played stingy defense, but finally, Ellaina Renfro got a putback with 18 seconds left to cut it to one possession at 31-28.

North Nodaway put Kami Gibson on the line again, but once again, she came through for North Harrison with 14 seconds left, hitting one out of two to make it two possessions at 32-28.

The Mustangs had one last chance as Kandace Damgar drove like she was going for a layup and broke Carly Rinehart’s ankles as she pulled back on a dime to attempt an open three. But the shot was in and out and North Harrison ran out the clock.