Facing their largest points deficit since their opening season loss to Bethlehem, the Lady Marshals were down by nine to open the fourth quarter against Henderson County. They would pull out a thrilling win when Layne Pea was fouled just before the buzzer sounded and with no time left on the clock, the senior sank her first free throw to give the Lady Marshals a 46-45 win and keep their win-streak alive at 16.
“I’m so proud of their resilience and the character building they just went through”, Coach Aaron Beth said in his post-game radio comments. “Win or lose tonight…this will help us in the post season.”
Henderson County, 8-2 coming into Tuesday’s game, have lost five games this season to COVID-19 cancellations and are picking up steam heading into the final stretch of the season. Plagued by a few too many turnovers off the press of the Lady Colonels, the Lady Marshals held a 12-10 lead after one quarter and led 24-21 at halftime.
Kaytlan Kemp scored to cut the lead down to one point for Henderson to open the second half. Following a basket by Halle Langhi, leading scorer Sadie Wurth scored the next four points to put the Lady Colonels up by one at 27-26. That was the start of a 9-0 Henderson run for a six-point lead before Langhi ended it with field goal for the Lady Marshals.
Held to seven points in the third quarter, they trailed 38-31 heading into the final eight minutes. After falling behind by nine, the Lady Marshals put together a 10-0 run to take the lead at 41-40. A Henderson turnover was scooped up by Cayson Conner and she was fouled by Kemp who left the game with her fifth. Conner’s free throws gave the Lady Marshals the lead.
Tied at 43-43, Langhi went to the line and sank both followed by free throws at the other end by Wurth and the game was tied again at 45 with 22 seconds to go. Holding for the final shot, Conner took it with four seconds to go – she fouled but missed both at the line. The rebound went to Henderson but was plucked by Pea whose free throw won the game.
The Lady Marshals will travel to Calhoun on Saturday to take on McLean County (8-4) in a 2:30 game.
Marshall 12 12 7 15 – 46
Henderson 10 11 17 7 – 45
Marshall: Conner 15, Langhi 14, Pea 8, Driver 4, Galloway 3, Jezik 2
Marshall (16-1): FG 13/25, 3 Pt 1/5, FT 19/26 (Langhi 6/8, Conner 7/11), Reb 23
Henderson: Wurth 19, Thomas 10, Mullins 4, Kemp 4, Lacer 3, Risley 3, Dixon 2
Henderson (8-3): FG 17/48, 3 Pt 4/15 (Wurth 2/4), FT 7/10 (Wurth 7/9), Reb 22