PRAIRIE GROVE -- Prairie Grove and Lincoln took turns stealing each other's in-bounds passes, instantly transforming defense into offense with a chance to extend the game that eventually went overtime Friday.
Prairie Grove triumphed 58-50 but had to come from behind three times in the fourth quarter just to get into overtime. Lincoln also overcame two deficits in the last 4:46 of regulation. The game was tied three times over the final 2:31. Prairie Grove scored the first 9 points of overtime to gain separation after overcoming an early 24-9 deficit against Lincoln Friday.
Prairie Grove coach Kevin Froud was suitably impressed.
"Lincoln was hitting shots," Froud said. "They had the hot hand early. They were hitting threes. They had one girl in double figures, who barely even scored the last time we played them. (Lincoln) Coach Emilianne Slamons is doing a good job. They can shoot it. They're a tough matchup. They'll be a tough out at their place in the district tournament."
"Our girls battled and battled in the second half. We tied the game in the third, but couldn't get ahead. We finally took the lead in the fourth. Then there was a big momentum swing. They miss a free throw and we came down and make a last-second shot. It was an exciting game. Both teams played hard."
Wild Finish
Midway through the fourth Prairie Grove led 42-38, but the game was about to get crazy. Operating in the post Hollie Webb was fouled and made a pair of charity shots. Larisha Crawford twice reset the offense by snaring second-chance rebounds. Emily Grant couldn't keep the lead at four because her second free throw bounced out. Lincoln only needed nine seconds to tie the contest at 43-43 on Madison Jones' trifecta at the 2:31 mark.
Lincoln's Jessica Goldman nearly made a steal, but couldn't keep the ball in-bounds. Wynos drove in the paint and was fouled making 1-of-2 to put Prairie Grove in front, 44-43. Sarah James-Stone rebounded the second free throw which missed and Prairie Grove called time-out. Jones stole the in-bounds pass and the Lady Wolves found Massey cutting to the basket as Lincoln reclaimed the lead, at 45-44.
Prairie Grove couldn't score and the alternate possession reverted to Lincoln on a jump-ball. The Lady Wolves burned 10 seconds, then took time-out in the front court. Their in-bounds pass from the side was stolen by Lexie Madewell and Prairie Grove attacked the basket only to have the shot blocked by Lincoln. Madewell rebounded however and was fouled. She missed the first foul shot, but regained her composure and sank the second to tie the game, at 45-45.
In-bounding against the press, Lincoln traveled. Coming out of a time-out, Prairie Grove in-bounded underneath its own basket but Massey tipped the ball into the backcourt and sailed in for a layup putting Lincoln on top, 47-45. She was fouled but couldn't convert the 3-point play leaving Prairie Grove with 12.3 seconds to work with. The Lady Tigers quickly advanced the ball and Gibbs nailed an 8-foot baseline jumper tying the game with 3 seconds remaining.
Overtime
Prairie Grove won the tip and Gibbs again asserted herself driving into the paint and banking in a shot at close-range. Possession reverted to the Lady Tigers with a traveling call. Wynos found Crawford in the right corner and she cranked up a 3-pointer giving Prairie Grove a 52-47 lead.
"In overtime, Aniyah Gibbs made a layup and Larisha Crawford made a three off a couple of offensive rebounds we had," Froud said. "We just made the plays when we had to. Lexie Madewell had a big rebound and made a big free throw to tie the game up. Emily Grant hit big technical foul free throws. She had 23 points on the night."
Prairie Grove 57, Lincoln 50 Overtime
Lincoln^11^17^8^11^3^--^50
Prairie Grove^5^16^10^16^11^--^58
Lincoln (9-8): Tristan Cunningham 5 3-4 16, Jessica Goldman 4 3-6 13, Madison Jones 3 2-2 10, Averi Massey 2 1-3 5, Tania Ortiz 2 0-0 4, Hollie Webb 0 2-2 2. Totals 16 11-17 50.
Prairie Grove (8-8): Emily Grant 5-22 13-16 23, Jasmine Wynos 2-9 5-8 9, Larisha Crawford 2-5 0-0 6, Aniyah Gibbs 2-12 2-2 6, Sarah James Stone 1-6 3-4 5, Lexie Madewell 1-4 1-2 3, Kaylee Elder 1-2 0-0 3, Audrey Doering 1-2 0-0 2, Jordan Sugg 0-1 1-2 1, Madi Vinson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-62 25-34 58.
3-Point Goals -- Lincoln 7 (Cunningham 3, Goldman 2, Jones 2). Prairie Grove 3-14 (Crawford 2-4, Elder 1-2, Gibbs 0-1, Madewell 0-1, Stone 0-1, Vinson 0-1, Grant 0-4).
Rebounds -- Prairie Grove 38 (Stone 15). Assists -- Prairie Grove 6 (Crawford, Doering, Grant, Stone, Sugg, Wynos). Steals -- Prairie Grove 10 (Grant 4). Turnovers -- Prairie Grove 14. Total fouls -- Lincoln . Prairie Grove . Fouled out -- Kirk, Cunningham.
Sports on 02/07/2018