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Riley Valliant (4) is fouled by a defender during a recent game. Valliant and her Cowgirl teammates won their District 21-A opener, 39-38, over Newcastle last Tuesday. Photo/Brian Smith
Three timeouts. No shots allowed. Gritty victory.
With visiting Newcastle down one with 9.4 seconds left in the Tuesday, Dec. 13 District 21-A opener in Bryson, the Bobcats took their last three respites in order to setup a potential game winning shot. The Cowgirls had other ideas, playing solid defense in the waning seconds to not allow a shot and preserve a 39-38 win over the visitors.
In a game where neither team shot well (Newcastle 28%, Bryson 26%) the Cowgirls led by as many as 12 in the second half but a gritty Lady Bobcat bunch held their own and used a size advantage to mount a pair of comebacks.
Up 35-32 to start the fourth, Bryson went scoreless for the first 3:09 of the quarter, senior guard Tracy Hauger getting the hostesses back on the board. Fortunately for Bryson, Newcastle missed its first seven shots.
Freshman Emma Hawkins brought Newcastle back with a pair of baskets to draw within one. The Lady ‘Cats had the chance to take the lead, going on a 2-0 fast break but were called for a double dribble with 13 seconds to go.
Bryson’s Allie Orr was fouled to get the ball back but missed both free throws, part of an 0-8 free throw shooting quarter for the Cowgirls, setting the stage for Newcastle’s final stand.
In the opening moments, this looked to be an offensive shootout. An Orr three-pointer and Hauger’s third bucket of the quarter extended the lead to 18-11. Mya Herrera’s three-point play would cut the lead to four to close the first frame.
The visitors would tie the game at 20 midway through the second, using physical, hands-up defense to force turnovers. Bryson would close the half on a 9-0 run, Orr pacing things with a bucket and three-pointer on consecutive possessions. Kaylie Sherrin’s putback at the buzzer would close a 4-18 shooting frame for the Cowgirls, who led 29-20 at the half.
Hauger extended the lead to 12 with a threepoint play. A pair of Hawkins baskets and a Mya Herrera basket, coupled with Bryson missing its last seven shots, enabled the visitors to get within 35-32 to begin the fourth.
