Lady Rebels fall in OT to free-throw shooting Valle

PARK HILLS — ‘Making them when you need them’ could have been the Valle Lady Warriors motto in their win Thursday night over the Central Lady Rebels. Valle was 11-22 at the line, but in the overtime period they were 4-5 for the last four points of the game to seal a 49-45 win over Central.

Valle committed 35 turnovers in the game, but a 16-55 shooting performance (29%) by the Lady Rebels from the floor equalized the playing field. Valle had fewer opportunities at the basket due to their constantly losing the ball, but they managed to make 18-32 for 56 percent from the floor.

Central (2-3) fought from behind in the fourth quarter to tie the game on a free throw by Taylor Fields after being fouled on an offensive rebound with two minutes remaining.

A basket by Valle’s Kierstan Wolk was matched by Central’s Rilea Owens on a 12 footer with still one minute in regulation to make the score 41-41. Owens followed her bucket with a steal to give Central a chance at a last shot. They got the shot, but it caromed out off the back rim to send the game into overtime.

Central took the early lead in the extra period with Stacy Williams making 1-2 free throws, but a basket by Hannah Kuenzel put Valle ahead for good for the seventh lead change of the game. Kuenzel led Valle in scoring and rebounds with 12 points and 11 boards.

Kara Figge scored a conventional three that proved to be the game-winner as Central made only one of their last four free-throws, while Valle’s Taylor Beyatte put the game out of reach, making 3-4 charity shots.

The game started out all Central as Valle made five turnovers in the first two minutes with the Lady Rebels swamping Valle’s ballhandlers with a trapping press. The press produced a 6-2 lead and a Valle time-out.

The Lady Rebels held Valle to only five shots at the basket in the first quarter, while Owens scored seven on three field goals and a free throw to give the Central and 11-6 lead at the break. Valle had 10 turnovers in the quarter.

The Lady Warriors (2-3) caught up to their hosts with Maria Herzog tying it at 11-11 on a conventional three. Herzog made an offensive rebound off of a missed free throw to feed Haylie Reynolds for a quick six-footer and Valle’s first lead.

Central took the lead back at 21-20 on a buzzer beater by Amanda Williams to end the half.

Like the start of the game, Valle had trouble again with Central’s press to start the third quarter. Valle’s turnovers and Central’s missed shots led to no score until three minutes had passed when Figge finally popped a three for a Valle lead.

Valle took advantage of the basket by applying their own press and after forcing three straight Central turnovers, the Lady Warriors gained their largest lead in the game at 28-22.

Trailing 31-26 to start the fourth quarter, the Lady Rebels bounced right back into the game. A putback by St. Gemme was followed by Owens stealing Valle’s inbound pass for a lay-up and the game to make it 31-30.

Owens was an all-around dynamo for the Lady Rebels, scoring 22 points and making five rebounds as well as five steals.

The two teams matched baskets going down the stretch, keeping Valle’ lead either three points or one until Field’s tying free-throw.

Valle  6  14  11  10  8 – 49

Central  11 10  5  15  4 – 45

Scoring:

Valle – Kuenzel 12, Figge 8, Grass 6, Herzog 6, Dalton 5, Beyatte 5, Wolk 4, Reynolds 3.  3ptrs – Figge, Reynolds.

Central – Owens 22, Fields 6, A. Williams 5, S. Williams 4, St. Gemme 2, Merritt 2.  3ptrs – Fields.