Northeast Nodaway’s girls only have seven players going out for basketball this year; of those, only five dressed out. But somehow, they were the ones who had enough gas at the end of the game to pull out the 20-19 win over Albany Tuesday, November 23rd. Albany looked like they were in control of a low scoring game after two late baskets put the Warriors up 17-11 with seven seconds left in the third. But then following a Bluejay timeout, Hadley DeFreece inbounded it to Jill Boswell, who hit a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer, and despite everything, they were still very much part of the game, down only 17-14.
The scoreboard was stuck there for nearly four minutes as neither team could solve each other’s defense. Finally, Jill Boswell got a steal and drew a foul. She made the first, missed the second, but Albany committed a violation on her second try. Given another chance, Boswell connected this time to cut it to 17-16 with 4:09 left.
The Bluejays were out of sync on their next two possessions, forcing passes that weren’t there. But following another timeout, Hadley DeFreece inbounded it again to Boswell, and this time, she took it down the right baseline and she connected to put Northeast up for the first time since the second quarter at 18-17 with 2:40 left.
Following a Bluejay stop, Dalanie Auffert missed inside, Makenzie Pride missed the putback try, but Auffert was fouled on the third try and made one of two with 1:56 left to make it 19-17.
After Abigail Troncin missed a good look from the high post for the green shirts, Auffert drew another shooting foul and made one of two to make it 20-17.
Northeast got a tieup on the ensuing possession and kept the ball, dribbling the clock down to 40 seconds before Albany switched to a man to man. Jill Boswell lost the ball, but locked down on defense, not allowing Albany a good look. The ball rolled under Delaney Shields’ legs into the backcourt, but Albany kept the ball with 26 seconds left following another tieup.
Albany tried to set up another play, but Hadley DeFreece stole a pass and brought it into the front court and Northeast took another timeout with 16 seconds left. Albany still had three fouls to get to seven to put Northeast on the line and get the ball back. They picked up their fifth with 11 seconds and their sixth with 6 seconds left. But then Jill Boswell was called for a travel to give Albany a chance to tie with a three. It was a bad call, because she stepped with her pivot foot after catching the inbounds pass.
But for some reason, Albany worked it into the elbow instead of setting up a three and Abigail Troncin’s shot was off the park. Worrell’s putback try from the other elbow went in to make it 20-19, but since the clock keeps running after a made basket, time expired and Northeast Nodaway came away with the win.
Northeast had won despite shooting a horrific 7 for 40 from the field; most of them were good looks, but they did not go in. It was likely the fewest points a Bluejay girls team had scored in a game and still won.
Albany twice looked to be in control of the game. They have nine players out, but dressed only six and had a new coach, so both teams were in rebuilding mode. The Warriors led 5-0 after the first quarter; the only scoring was a three point play from Abby Troncin and another basket from Shields. But Makenzie Pride made an inside shot to break the shutout to start the second, and the Bluejays were able to get the ball into Dalanie Auffert as they whittled away at the lead and went ahead after a third chance putback from Auffert at the 2:40 mark of the second. Worrell’s shot from the top of the key tied it up at 7 at the break.
Delaney Shields, who had passed up some good looks in the first half, hit a 3-pointer to start the second half and Albany moved back in front again. Worrell’s high post shot put them up 13-9, but they missed four different tries to go up 6 or 7 before Auffert’s putback cut it to 13-11. Shields and Troncin connected for Albany, but then Boswell cut it to three to set up the final heroics.
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