Lady Rebels lose heartbreaker in overtime

By COSMO COSSEY

Poinsett County

Democrat Tribune

Ali Towles of Riverside shoots a jumper in the lane during Class 2A state tournament action in Rector. (Photo by Cosmo Cossey)

Riverside (31-9) let a 12-point lead slip away in the second half as Mount Vernon-Enola (MVE) outscored the Lady Rebels 23-11 in the second half to force an overtime period. MVE then outscored Riverside, 8-6, in overtime to take a 45-43 win in Class 2A state basketball action this past Friday in Rector.

Amber Courtney hit two free throws to give the Lady Rebels an early 1-0 lead before MVE hit one-of-two free throws to tie the game.

Mackenzie Thomas canned a three-pointer to make it 4-1 as MVE scored inside to make the score 4-3 Riverside. Courtney scored inside and Ali Towles hit triple twine to make it 9-3 as a jumper in the lane from MVE made it 9-5 with 3:12 left. Riverside ended the quarter on a 6-0 run as Courtney had a stick back basket, Towles hit a jumper and Klaire Womack hit a jumper to make it 15-5 Lady Rebels after one.

MVE got a steal and lay up to make it 15-7 before Thomas hit back-to-back three-pointers to push the Riverside lead to 21-7 with 4:04 left. MVE scored inside and netted a three-ball to cut the lead to 21-12 only to see Brooklyn Berry drill a three-ball and Gracie Washington hit two free throws to make it 26-12. MVE added a jumper late to make the halftime score 26-14.

The third quarter saw the Lady Rebels go ice cold with only three points in the quarter. MVE opened the quarter with two straight baskets cutting the lead to 26-18 as Towles hit a three-pointer from the top of the key to make it 29-18 Lady Rebels with 4:13 left. MVE scored the last 12 points of the quarter to make the score 30-29 MVE at the end of three quarters.

Riverside got a stick back basket from Courtney early in the fourth quarter as MVE hit triple twine to make it 33-31 Lady Warhawks. Courtney and Towles scored consecutive baskets to make it 35-33 Lady Rebels with 3:04 left. Back-to-back jumpers from MVE gave them a 37-35 lead only to see Klaire Womack hit a runner to tie the game at 37 and force an extra period.

Courtney scored the first points in overtime with a basket inside to make it 39-37 Lady Rebels only to see MVE score the next six points to go up 43-39 with 1:37 left. Klaire Womack hit one-of-two free throws, MVE hit a runner before Thomas canned a three-ball to make it 43-43 with 28 seconds left. MVE scored a basket in the paint with four seconds left to earn the 45-43 win.

“We had way too many turnovers in the second half and some poor offensive possessions. We just couldn't put them away,” Riverside head coach Tyler Timms said. “I felt we were in control for most of the game but when you get this far the margin of error is paper thin,” Timms added. “I can't tell you how much our only senior Mackenzie Thomas meant to us. Her personality and work ethic and her leadership was greatly appreciated,” Timms said. “We'll regroup, get back to work and hope to be right back in thick of it again next year,” Timms added.

Thomas led the Lady Rebels with 12 points as Courtney and Towles scored 11 and 10 points, respectively. Klaire Womack added five points, Berry had three points and Washington chipped in two points.