Kristen Tracy bailed out Worth County at the end of regulation Saturday in the championship game of the Albany Tournament and Audrey Runde bailed them out at the free throw line at the end of the first overtime, and Worth County went on to beat Albany 51-44 in double overtime to win the Albany Tournament. Worth County knocked off the third seed (Platte Valley), the second seed (Stanberry), and the first seed (Albany) to run the table. It was the first overtime game they had played in since the 2019-20 season, when they lost by two to Braymer. The last overtime game they won was in 2017-18, when they beat North Harrison in the District Finals 51-46. The last double overtime game they played in was during the 2016-17 season, when they beat North Harrison 54-50 in double overtime in the semifinal round of districts that year.
The Warriors started off red hot, with Kennedi Epperly hitting two 3-pointers and Maddix Epperly another as they led 12-7 at one point in the first quarter. Kristen Tracy scored from inside and Rylee Ruckman hit a 3-pointer to cut the Tiger deficit to 13-12 after one.
It looked like Worth County would take control in the second as Kambree Briner started driving at will, getting six points during a 16-0 Tiger run. Kristen Tracy knocked down two mid-range shots during the stretch and Rylee Ruckman hit two 3-pointers as the Tigers built up a seemingly comfortable 28-13 margin at the 2:30 mark.
But Albany had a lot of fouls to give, and they could afford to be very aggressive on defense to get back in the game. They started swarming and pressing the Tigers, and Maddix Epperly hit a 3-pointer to break the run, and Kennedi Epperly hit a free throw to close to within 28-17.
Maddix Epperly and Kennedi Epperly hit 3-pointers early in the third quarter as Albany continued its rally, closing to within 31-27. Then, after Kambree Briner, who was instrumental in Worth County's tournament run, picked up her fourth foul, Kaitlyn Bunker started working the offensive glass at will, scoring a free throw and two putbacks as Albany regained the lead at the end of three at 34-33.
Kristen Tracy knocked down a shot from the high post and Megan Tracy scored off a drive to put Worth County back in front 37-34 as the Tigers were able to stop the bleeding. The score was stuck there until Maddix Epperly hit a 3-pointer to tie it again at 37 and Kaitlyn Bunker got her third putback of the half to put the Warriors in front 39-37.
But after Bunker missed a good look inside in the closing seconds that would have made it four, the tide began to turn again. Worth County got the rebound, turned it over with a 10-seconds call against Albany's press, but Kambree Briner stole it right back again. Jaiden Hillyard blocked Audrey Runde's runner, but Runde stole the ball back and Emmy Hogue, Albany's best ball-handler, picked up a foul during the scramble. Kambree Briner nearly double dribbled with it, and then Megan Tracy missed a 3-pointer. But Kristen Tracy was there for the putback to tie it at 39, and Kennedi Epperly's 3-pointer at the end of regulation missed.
Bunker put the Warriors in front at the start of the first overtime and then got a steal, but Kennedi Epperly missed a runner. Emmy Hogue drew her fourth and fifth fouls trying to guard Kambree Briner. On the second foul, Worth County got into the bonus to make it 41-40. Bunker made a free throw with 1:22 left in the first overtime, but Audrey Runde grabbed an offensive board, drew a foul, and hit both free throws to tie it with 38 seconds left in the first overtime at 42. Albany ran the clock down for a last shot, but Kennedi Epperly's runner missed at the buzzer to send it to the second overtime.
Kambree Briner got the ball into Kristen Tracy, and she drew a foul and hit both free throws to put Worth County up 44-42 to start the second overtime. Jaiden Hillyard cut inside and drew a foul, only to miss two free throws that would have tied it. Audrey Runde drove, drew a foul, and hit both free throws to make it 46-42. Kennedi Epperly missed a runner, but Rylee Ruckman's runner was blocked, and the jump ball went to Albany with 2:18 left.
The teams traded misses until Rylee Ruckman hit one out of two at the line to make it 47-42 and Kambree Briner got an offensive board. Kennedi Epperly got a steal, only for Kambree Briner to tip it into the backcourt and steal it right back. She drew a hard foul and was shaken up on the play but made one of two to make it 48-42. Kennedi Epperly missed a 3-pointer, and a tie-up went to Worth County. Kristen Tracy made one of two to make it three possessions at 49-42 with 34.6 seconds left. Jayden Hillyard drove and scored with 18 seconds left to cut it to 49-44, only for Kambree Briner to hit Kristen Tracy, who got behind the Albany press, to finish off the Warriors.
After both teams had struggled from the free throw line all game, Worth County went 10 for its last 16 spanning both overtime periods to get the win.
Rylee Ruckman and Kristen Tracy were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Tigers. Kristen Tracy was named MVP.
Kristen Tracy had 17, Kambree Briner 13, Rylee Ruckman 10, Audrey Runde 7, and Megan Tracy 4.
Kambree Briner had 12 boards. Kristen Tracy and Megan Tracy had 10, Rylee Ruckman 7, and Keira Hardy and Audrey Runde 4 each.
Kambree Briner had 6 assists. Kristen Tracy had 5, and Megan Tracy and Rylee Ruckman had 2.
Kristen Tracy had 4 tips. Megan Tracy and Kambree Briner had 2 and Rylee Ruckman and Keira Hardy had 1.
Kambree Briner had 4 steals. Audrey Runde had 3, Megan Tracy 2, and Rylee Ruckman, Keira Hardy, and Kristen Tracy had 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment