Gallatin converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the second overtime period to turn back a pesky fifth-seeded Lexington team, 39-30.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
When scoring from the field failed to materialize, the Lady Bulldogs settled for proficiency from the free throw line at the tail end of Monday night’s opener in the Lawson Tournament.
Gallatin converted seven of eight free throw attempts in the second overtime period to turn back a pesky fifth-seeded Lexington team, 39-30. Katie Ward, who led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points, hit four of four attempts from the stripe, Kelsie Parker popped in both of her tries and Trisha Sprague hit an important charity toss that gave Gallatin the lead after she picked off an errant pass in front of the scorer’s table.
Lexington failed to protect the 25-19 lead it took into the fourth quarter. Pressure on the ball- handler forced a series of turnovers that allowed Gallatin to string together enough possessions to tie the score at 26-26 with 4:26 remaining …but neither team scored again in regulation. Ward’s running jumper on the baseline, Keira Story’s spin shot in the lane and Sprague’s three-pointer from deep in the corner provided the push that sent the game into OT.
Emily Gay hit a shot in the lane to give Gallatin its first lead, 28-26, since early in the second quarter. Lexington tied the score and had the ball for a final shot but a turnover spelled a second OT for the two teams.
Sprague’s heads-up steal put the Lady Bulldogs in front to stay. Ward followed with a pair of free throws after she held the ball out front. Gay batted an LHS pass to a teammate and Ward wound up on the line again for a pair of foul shots. Parker closed out the game with a pair of late free throws.
With the win, the Lady Bulldogs earned the right to face top-seeded Smithville at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Second-seeded Hamilton will face #3 Lawson in the other girls semifinal at 7:30 p.m.