Trailing by 11 points midway through the third quarter Monday, the Russellville Lady Panthers roared back to take the lead, only to let it slip away.
It appeared to bounce away when a potential winning layup was kicked by a Lady Panther. Then all was well when Coach Dedra Adler's team dominated
overtime on the way to a 56-53 win.
Making the victory more special was that it not only came in the district and on the road, but that it was over crosstown rival Logan County, which had
started the season spectacularly.
Both teams were on the floor again Tuesday night. See those results at the end of this story.
Brittany Hampton hit a free throw early in the overtime, and RHS led all of the extra four minutes.
After Kayla MacAllister tied the game at 4-4, the Lady Cougars never trailed until the final minute of the third quarter. They were up 12-8 after a
quarter. Russellville tied it at 15-15 on Nakia Daniel's 3-pointer, but Logan scored the final seven points of the quarter on goals by Michelle
England, Jaylin Jones and Sarah Speck to make it 22-15
at the half.
Baskets by England, Ann Dorris and Markita Pheal gave the Lady Cougars a seemingly commanding 32-21 lead with four minutes left in the quarter, but
that changed in a hurry.
Coach Adler sent her Lady Panthers into a mad-dog, pressing defense that completely flustered the home team. Logan had trouble getting the ball past
halfcourt, and Russellville turned those turnovers into points. Daniel scored on a runout, Amber Sydnor blocked a shot by Logan's Jaylin Jones, Daniel
connected again, Imani Hampton scored, and Brittany Hampton tied it on a free throw two minutes and 40 seconds after that 11-point lead had appeared.
Daniel gave her team the lead after a steal, and Sydnor's free throw produced a three-point lead after that 14-0 run.
Victoria Elliott, who was a thorn in the Lady Panthers' side all night, picked up a loose ball and hit an 18-footer at the buzzer. RHS led 35-34
entering what was expected to be the final period.
The Lady Panthers' lead reached six when Brittany Hampton scored after a steal, but England's 3-pointer and her free throw tied it at 44-44 with 3:45
remaining. Then MacAllister rebounded a missed free throw to give Logan a lead. Russellville came back on free throws by Sydnor, but Dorris tied it on
a drive at 48-48 with 27.2 seconds.
Elliott got the ball back when she knocked it loose from a dribbler. Coach Scot MacAllister called a timeout, but no Lady Cougar could catch Dorris'
bullet pass, and Russellville had a chance for the last shot. Imani Hampton broke loose for a possible layup but she dribbled the ball off her foot and
out of bounds, bringing on overtime.
Speck's rebound shot pulled the Lady Cougars to within one in overtime, but a calm, well-executed layup by Kesi Neblett was big. Sydnor's free throws
clinched it.
"We played stupid in every way," said Coach MacAllister. "Going one for six at the line in overtime didn't help either." Free throw shooting was not a
strong point for either team. Logan was 9 of 15 and the winners a frigid 14 of 27, including Sydnor's 8-13..
Daniel led the winners with 20 points while Sydnor scored 16 and Imani Hampton 13. Speck with 17 and England with 11 were the only double figure
scorers for Logan, which had five players with two points each.
"I liked our team's composure under pressure. We were effective in our press because of our effort and intensity," Coach Adler said. "And I was really
proud of the way Amber Sydnor hit free throws when the game was on the line."
The Lady Panthers improved to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in the district. Logan fell to 10-6, 1-2.
Score by Quarters:
1) LCHS 12-8, 2) LCHS 22-17, 3) RHS 35-34, 4) 48-48, Final)
Russellville 56, Logan County 53
RHS (56)
Nakia Daniel 20, Amber Sydnor 16, Imani Hampton 11, Brittany Hampton 5, Kesi Neblett 4, Rippy, Hoosier, Rose, Bigbee
LCHS (53)
Sara Speck 17, Michelle England 11, Ann Dorris 9, Kayla MacAllister 6, Meagan Williams 2, Victoria Elliott 2, Jaylin Jones 2, Miranda Rone 2, Markita
Pheal 2
Lady Cougars 71, Butler County 57
Logan County bounced back to win at Butler County Tuesday night with a 71-57 win. They had led by 20 early in the game, but the Lady Bears made a run
in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to single figures. The Lady Cougars managed only one field goal in the first seven minutes of the final period
but then turned on at the end.
Ann Dorris, who spent much of the fourth quarter on the foul line, led the way with 18 points. Sara Speck and Michelle England each added 15. Maggie
Smith led Butler with 13 points while Taylor Manning added 10 and Lexie Smith and Lindsey Blair 8 each.
Logan's record improved to 11-6, which is third best in the Fourth Region. The Lady Bears fell to 5-11.
Greenwood 55, Lady Panthers 47
A close game throughout went the way of the visitors in the final two minutes. The Lady Gators led by two points at halftime and one going into the
final quarter. RHS tied it at 47-47 on Kesi Neblett's rebound shot and a goal by Nakia Daniel with 2:20 remaining.
Greenwood, however, went on an 8-0 run to put the game away. Meagan Bridges hit a falling layup, Ali Hart hit a jumper, and RHS couldn't get going
again after the emotional and hard-fought win the night before.
Imani Hampton had 14 points, Daniel 11 and Brittany Hampton 10 for the Lady Panthers. Molly Lamb led the Gators with 18 points and Dylan Carter added
13 with 8 points each by Chelsea Johnson and Hart, who is the sister of major league baseball player Corey Hart.
Greenwood's record advanced to 11-7 while Russellville is at 6-8.