Gilman City’s girls had been on a roll, but on Tuesday, January 20th, they had to overcome adversity as well as a tough Mercer squad that was 10-4 coming into the game. They were without Hailey McClure (flu), meaning that their four starting players plus reserve Paisley Taggart had to play all 32 minutes without getting into foul trouble and somehow keep enough energy to hold off a strong Cards squad. Mercer, despite just having one senior, looked really sharp during warmups, and sure enough, it carried over into the game.
Into the gap stepped Paisley Taggart, who played the best game of her life, grabbing seven boards, six tips, and five steals. She missed a ton and only had two points; however, the scoring will come.
Honored after the games were over was Avery Gregg, the lone senior on the Hawk squad. She plans to continue her career at Culver-Stockton and compete in basketball and track.
Mercer came out in a triangle and two, faceguarding Khloey Sperry and Avery Gregg and taking their chances with Alli Burke. Kylie Holt scored five points early for Mercer as the Cards led by as much as 7-3 before Alli Burke hit a 3-pointer to cut it to 7-6 after one.
The game was tied at 8, 13, 15, and 17 before Gilman City finally got a late push to take the lead. Paisley Taggart got a steal and fed Avery Gregg, who fed Khloey Sperry, who drew a foul and hit both free throws to make it 19-17 with 1:33 left in the first. After the Hawks got a stop, Alli Burke hit her fourth triple of the night to make it 22-17 at the half.
Paisley Taggart got a tip, Avery Gregg got a steal, and she fed Khloey Sperry, who made one of two to make it 23-17 to start the third. But Avery Gregg picked up her third foul and had to be careful and Mercer started chipping away. Emma Stark scored from inside, Payton Houk hit a 3-pointer, and Mercer was back in the game again at 23-22. The game was tied at 25 and 27 before Khloey Sperry got a third-chance try at the basket with 19 seconds left in the third and made one of two. Alli Burke followed it up with her fifth 3-pointer of the night to make it 31-27 after three.
With everyone having played the whole game, Gilman City started tiring to start the fourth, and Zoe Fisher beat them down the floor and converted a three-point play to make it 31-30 with 7:17 left in the game. Tenley Griffith countered with a baseline shot to make it 33-30, and Gilman City started doing better defensively after they started faceguarding Kylie Holt with Avery Gregg. The score was stuck at 33-30 until the 3:37 mark, when Fisher struck again with another three-point play to tie it at 33.
But Alli Burke countered with her sixth triple of the night with 2:54 left to make it 36-33 after Paisley Taggart got her the ball, and Taggart got a steal. Gilman City missed, but Lily Stark only made one of two at the line to make it 36-34 with 1:39 left.
Mercer had many fouls to give and could afford to be very aggressive on defense, but Paisley Taggart came up big again, this time feeding Khloey Sperry, who drove down the left side and hit a reverse layup with 53 seconds left to make it 38-34.
The Cards missed a 3-pointer, and both teams exchanged turnovers, but then Gilman City beat the Mercer press and the Cards had to foul, putting Khloey Sperry on the line with 19 seconds left. She made both free throws to make it 40-34.
Payton Houk slashed and scored with 13 seconds left to make it 40-36, and there was a heartstopping moment when they got a steal off the press and a chance to cut it to two. But Khloey Sperry rejected the ensuing shot and came away with the ball after a big scramble. Avery Gregg made one of two at the line, and Mercer missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Alli Burke had 18 points for the Hawks. Khloey Sperry had 16, Avery Gregg 3, and Paisley Taggart and Tenley Griffith 2.
Khloey Sperry had 3 blocks and Alli Burke had 2.
Khloey Sperry had 15 boards. Tenley Griffith had 11, Paisley Taggart 7, Avery Gregg 5, and Alli Burke 3.
Avery Gregg had 6 assists. Tenley Griffith had 3 and Khloey Sperry and Paisley Taggart had 2.
Tenley Griffith had 9 tips. Paisley Taggart had 6, Khloey Sperry 4, and Avery Gregg 2.
Avery Gregg and Paisley Taggart had 5 steals. Khloey Sperry and Tenley Griffith had 3.
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