By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Webster County senior Natalie Stone played rock solid throughout the game as her Lady Trojan basketball team tangled with Christian County in a 2nd Region semi-final contest at Madisonville-North Hopkins on Friday evening.
That didn't stop Stone's teammate Keri Wright, a reserve, from stealing the spotlight when she collected perhaps the biggest rebound and bucket on the same play with 16.2 seconds in the game as Webster eventually prevailed 51-48.
Down seven points with three minutes to go, the Lady Trojans forced their way back into the game and Wright's board and put-back capped a rollercoaster victory for Webster.
Tied 48 all with 23 seconds left, Christian could have played for the final shot. Instead Lady Colonel guard Denisha Mumford attempted a shot and missed. Then, Shatera Lewis snagged the rebound and missed her own attempt.
Webster's Lynette Harris grabbed the next board and was fouled two seconds later. Harris nailed her first free-throw attempt, but her miss provided Wright with the opportunity to make a game-clinching play.
Wright hauled in the rebound, pivoted and threw a shot off the backboard that fell through the net to give her team a three-point advantage. The score was her only points on the night.
"That's something as a role player and a sub she's given us all year," coach Christina Whitsell said. "She's been able to come in, grab big rebounds and that offensive basket kind of sealed the lead."
That didn't stop Stone's teammate Keri Wright, a reserve, from stealing the spotlight when she collected perhaps the biggest rebound and bucket on the same play with 16.2 seconds in the game as Webster eventually prevailed 51-48.
Down seven points with three minutes to go, the Lady Trojans forced their way back into the game and Wright's board and put-back capped a rollercoaster victory for Webster.
Tied 48 all with 23 seconds left, Christian could have played for the final shot. Instead Lady Colonel guard Denisha Mumford attempted a shot and missed. Then, Shatera Lewis snagged the rebound and missed her own attempt.
Webster's Lynette Harris grabbed the next board and was fouled two seconds later. Harris nailed her first free-throw attempt, but her miss provided Wright with the opportunity to make a game-clinching play.
Wright hauled in the rebound, pivoted and threw a shot off the backboard that fell through the net to give her team a three-point advantage. The score was her only points on the night.
"That's something as a role player and a sub she's given us all year," coach Christina Whitsell said. "She's been able to come in, grab big rebounds and that offensive basket kind of sealed the lead."
After a Lady Colonels' timeout, Mumford attempted a three with six seconds left, but lost control of the ball before getting the shot off. Kierra Wilson tried a three from the corner but Ellie Steiner blocked the attempt and the ball trickled out of bounds with .3 seconds left. Christian's ensuing in-bound was deflected and Webster celebrated the victory.
Neither team could have predicted such an outcome in the first half though when the Lady Trojans led 27-6 after nine minutes of action.
Stone and teammate Kerstin Hayes put Webster in control early by finding seams in the defense to drive the lane and also locating open teammates. Stone finished with a team-high 16 points.
"I was just reading what they were giving me and if it was to drive into the paint and pull up or go all the way in for a layup, I was just doing what they were giving to me," she said.
Webster created the large advantage by utilizing a 17-0 run, but Christian responded by converting on five straight offensive possessions to pull back into the contest. The Lady Trojan lead shrank to seven by halftime.
"(Christian) brought out that pressure where they run two and three guards at you," Whitsell said of the Lady Colonel comeback. "We stopped attacking. We got flustered...We didn't have ball in our court, which was our game plan."
Webster's woes continued in the third quarter and a Mumford layup with 38 seconds before the fourth gave Christian its first lead.
The Lady Colonels built their advantage to seven, but then Stone and company took charge.
"(Stone) did a much better job of handling the pressure and making good decisions down the stretch," Whitsell said. "You can tell she's a senior and doesn't want this to end.
As the team's lone senior, Stone said tried to hype the team all day long, beginning at school Friday.
"I was thinking I don't want this to be my last game and I gave it my all," she said. "I had the whole team motivated today at school and then when we got here I told them it's do or die for us. I go home forever, you all get another chance, but I don't, so play for me."
Even after Webster let a 21-point lead evaporate, the squad never lost its swagger and maintained the win or go home attitude to extend its season and for Stone, her career, at least one more day.
The Lady Trojans will play 7 p.m. today against Henderson County in the 2nd Region Championship game at North. The contest marks the fourth time this season the two schools will meet. Henderson holds a 2-1 season record against Webster.
Christian (12-15) 6 18 16 8 - 48
Webster (23-7) 26 5 8 12 - 51
Christian: Denisha Mumford 17, Shatera Lewis 10, Kierra Wilson 6, Martessia Williams 5, Lora McKnight 4, Tiakesha Brasher 3, Jasherrica Barkely 2, Sherria Hester 1
Webster: Natalie Stone 16, Lynette Harris 14, Kerstin Hayes 8, Ellie Steiner 8, Stephanie Householder 3, Keri Wright
Neither team could have predicted such an outcome in the first half though when the Lady Trojans led 27-6 after nine minutes of action.
Stone and teammate Kerstin Hayes put Webster in control early by finding seams in the defense to drive the lane and also locating open teammates. Stone finished with a team-high 16 points.
"I was just reading what they were giving me and if it was to drive into the paint and pull up or go all the way in for a layup, I was just doing what they were giving to me," she said.
Webster created the large advantage by utilizing a 17-0 run, but Christian responded by converting on five straight offensive possessions to pull back into the contest. The Lady Trojan lead shrank to seven by halftime.
"(Christian) brought out that pressure where they run two and three guards at you," Whitsell said of the Lady Colonel comeback. "We stopped attacking. We got flustered...We didn't have ball in our court, which was our game plan."
Webster's woes continued in the third quarter and a Mumford layup with 38 seconds before the fourth gave Christian its first lead.
The Lady Colonels built their advantage to seven, but then Stone and company took charge.
"(Stone) did a much better job of handling the pressure and making good decisions down the stretch," Whitsell said. "You can tell she's a senior and doesn't want this to end.
As the team's lone senior, Stone said tried to hype the team all day long, beginning at school Friday.
"I was thinking I don't want this to be my last game and I gave it my all," she said. "I had the whole team motivated today at school and then when we got here I told them it's do or die for us. I go home forever, you all get another chance, but I don't, so play for me."
Even after Webster let a 21-point lead evaporate, the squad never lost its swagger and maintained the win or go home attitude to extend its season and for Stone, her career, at least one more day.
The Lady Trojans will play 7 p.m. today against Henderson County in the 2nd Region Championship game at North. The contest marks the fourth time this season the two schools will meet. Henderson holds a 2-1 season record against Webster.
Christian (12-15) 6 18 16 8 - 48
Webster (23-7) 26 5 8 12 - 51
Christian: Denisha Mumford 17, Shatera Lewis 10, Kierra Wilson 6, Martessia Williams 5, Lora McKnight 4, Tiakesha Brasher 3, Jasherrica Barkely 2, Sherria Hester 1
Webster: Natalie Stone 16, Lynette Harris 14, Kerstin Hayes 8, Ellie Steiner 8, Stephanie Householder 3, Keri Wright
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