By GREG MENGELT
Kayton Cole, Tanner Marcum and Samantha Pitts each scored four points in the second overtime period as New Albany topped New Washington, 76-71 on Thursday.
The Bulldogs hit all six of their free throws in the second overtime to outscore New Wash 12-7 and pull away in the second overtime session.
Behind Cole, New Albany was in charge for three quarters, but New Washington outscored the Bulldogs 23-8 in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
“The bottom line is it comes down to decision making,” Bulldog coach Amanda Carmichael said. “We made too many mistakes in the fourth quarters. That’s been the story all season. We have to realize how important it is to take care of the basektball.”
Cole finished with a game-high 28 points, including 10 in the two overtimes, including all six of the Bulldogs’ points in the first overtime. Kamaren Cole and Marcum each had 14, and Pitts finished with eight points and a team-high nine boards.
Chloe Franklin led the Mustangs with a season-high 27 points. She also had 13 rebounds and three assists. Casey Johnson chipped in with 15 points and Katelyn Walker had seven points and three assists.
New Washington opens Sectional 62 action on Tuesday when it hosts 6-15 Christian Academy of Indiana.
New Albany has a first-round bye in Sectional 8 and will face the Seymour-Bedford North Lawrence winner next Friday.
• Highlanders bounced back: Following its first loss of the season, Floyd Central rebounded to post a 72-32 win over Silver Creek on Senior Night.
Jennifer Smith scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Brigid Morrisey added 11 points and eight assists for the Highlanders — who outscored the Dragons 55-22 over the final three periods.
Camry Hinton continued her hot play with 15 points.
Mandi Martin led Silver Creek with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.
The Floyd (20-1) will face Jennings County in the first round of Sectional 8 on Tuesday. The Dragons drew a first-round bye in Sectional 30 at Silver Creek. Next Friday, the Creek will play the winner of Tuesday’s matchup between North Harrison and Crawford County.
• Rademacher’s bucket gives Braves a victory: Allison Rademacher hit a shot as the buzzer sounded, lifting Borden to a 32-31 win over Springs Valley.
Down 31-30 in the waning seconds, McKenna Williams drove into the lane and lost control of the basketball. Rademacher picked the ball up, turned and banked the shot as the clock hit zero.
“It was just like we drew it up,” Braves coach Charlie Gardner joked.
Borden trailed 23-14 after three quarters, but outscored the Blackhawks 18-8 in the final period. Jordan Cook got the rally started with a 3-pointer on the Braves’ opening possession of the fourth quarter.
“That started the run and gave us a little bit of confidence,” Gardner said.
Williams led Borden with 12 points, while leading scorer Erin Mikel had eight. Rademacher finished with five.
“They keyed on Mikel and we were able to get some looks for some other girls.”
Skylar Stephenson had a game-high 14 points for Springs Valley.
Borden (8-12) will face Henryville in the first round of Sectional 62 action at New Washington on Wednesday.
• Clarksville falls at Corydon: Clarksville was outscored 19-5 in the first quarter and never recovered in a 57-31 loss at Corydon Central.
Kiersten Hall led Clarksville with 14 points and eight rebounds. Jenna Keinsley had a game-high 17 points for the Panthers.
The Generals (3-17) will try to snap their 13-game losing streak on Tuesday when they face 16-3 Paoli in the first round of Sectional 47 action at Brownstown Central.
