Ladycats scratch out 53-50 OT win

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GEORGETOWN – Sarah Burton had a game-high 24 points for Blanchester but Merri Lindsey scored all 4 of her points in overtime as the Ladycats defeated Georgetown 53-50 in a Southern Buckeye Conference National Division game at the GHS gym.

Blanchester is now 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the National Division. Georgetown falls to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the league.

Bethel-Tate leads the National Division at 6-0, 5-0 following a Monday win over Williamsburg 45-42.

“It was a big win,” said BHS coach Bennie Carroll. “It was a huge win, especially on their court. That was one that keeps us alive in the league.”

Burton had 16 of her 24 points in the second half to keep Blanchester on top most of the way. Tied at 22-22 at halftime, BHS scored the first 6 points of the 3rd quarter and seized control of the game.

Georgetown rallied with 21 points in the 4th quarter and tied the game in the final minute. The Lady G-Men had a chance for a victory but came up short and the teams went to overtime.

In the extra session, Blanchester played without Marissa Doughman, Tristan Culberson and Rachael Doyle. All 3 players fouled out of the game.

But Lindsey scored 2 baskets on close-in shots as the Ladycats claimed the win over the 15-time reigning SBC National Division champion.

“It was just a great game, a gutsy effort by our girls,” Carroll said after the game. “It was a pretty close game the entire time. We probably led more than we trailed.”

Carroll commended Marissa Doughman, McKenzie Miller and Kayla Dugger for their performance against the defensive pressure of the Lady G-Men. “They did a nice job of handling the ball against their press,” he said.

Blanchester was fortunate to be in the game. Georgetown was 24-for-35 at the line while Blanchester was 2-for-7, a disparity that normally spells defeat.

“We had to sweat it out in the end,” Carroll said. “They had to overcome a lot of adversity. With those kids fouling out, we had some kids step up for us in the end.”

Rachel Gibbons led Georgetown with 26 points. She was 14-15 at the free throw line.

The win for Carroll came over long-time Georgetown coach Bernie Cropper, who also coached at Wilmington High School.

“Bernie and I are good friends; he is my mentor,” said Carroll. “I think he is one of the best coaches around.”

SUMMARY

Dec 14, 2015

@Georgetown High School

Blanchester 53 Georgetown 50 OT

B 10.12.13.14.04…..53

G 13.09.06.21.01…..50

(53) BLANCHESTER (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Doyle 2-0-0-4 Culberson 3-2-0-8 Doughman 3-0-0-6 Burton 11-1-1-24 Lindsey 3-0-0-6 E. Gundler 1-0-0-2 Miller 0-0-0-0 Baldwin 0-0-0-0 Dugger 1-0-1-3. TOTALS 24-3-2-53

(50) GEORGETOWN (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Underwood 4-0-3-11 Zigla 1-0-0-2 Gibbons 6-0-14-26 Johnson 2-0-3-7 Graham 0-0-1-1 McKinney 0-0-3-3. TOTALS 13-0-24-50.

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By Mark Huber

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Follow Mark on Twitter @wnjsports

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