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Shot can’t beat buzzer for MHS on home court

By Shawn Linenberger - | Feb 13, 2007

Just one more stinking second.

That’s about all the McLouth High girls basketball team needed to force overtime against Horton on Friday in McLouth.

MHS freshman Missy Rome took a jumper from inside the three-point line, a shot that banked off the backboard and went in, but time had expired before she got the shot off and Horton held on in a thriller, 41-39.

The Chargers improved to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in the Delaware Valley League, while the Bulldogs dropped to 6-10 overall and 2-5 in the DVL.

The Bulldogs trailed by 11, 39-28, in the fourth quarter, but MHS staged a furious rally and tied the game at 39. After trading a few possessions, Horton took charge with a basket and led 41-39.

After a McLouth timeout with 22 seconds left, MHS coach Keith Miller drew up a play.

Rachael Thompson got open a couple seconds later for a three and took the shot, but missed and Horton rebounded.

McLouth then fouled, sending Horton to the line. But a Horton player missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Rome got the rebound before a Horton player tried to grab the ball. Officials called a jump ball, and the possession arrow went to the Bulldogs, but McLouth wasn’t able to get the shot off in time.

After the game, Miller said the Bulldogs got the shot opportunity he wanted right after the timeout with 22 seconds left.

“I’m not a big proponent of whittling it down to five or six seconds,” Miller said about holding the ball on a last possession. “I’m in favor of taking a good shot.”

Horton did its share of pressing, but McLouth handled the pressure defense and forced HHS to switch out of the full-court press.

“I think that’s a compliment to our program,” Miller said, noting some teams that normally press don’t always press against the Bulldogs.

Rome, who finished the game with 13, prefers to have teams lay on the pressure.

“I like it when they press us,” Rome said. “I just think we have a pretty good dribbling team.”

Abby Annis also was in double figures with 10 for the Bulldogs.

Annis said the team was disappointed about the loss but was looking forward to the final games of the season. After going 2-19 last year, the Bulldogs are an improved 6-10. Annis said the team has a strong group of girls competing this year for MHS.

McLouth was scheduled to play Doniphan West on Tuesday in Highland, but inclement weather postponed the game. Information on a rescheduled game wasn’t available. However, the team will play Friday at Kansas City Christian.

“We have a good shot at competing with both of those teams, if we keep playing well,” Annis said. For more on when the Doniphan West game will be rescheduled, log on to The Mirror’s Web site, www.tonganoxiemirror.com.

Horton 41, McLouth 39

Score by quarters
Horton 13 8 13 7 — 41
McLouth 8 8 10 13 — 39

Individual scoring
Horton — Murata 13, Burke 8, Pederson 6, Berger 4, Dishon 4, Sextro 2, Ross 2, Berger 2.
McLouth — Rome 13, Annis 10 Thompson 8, Shufflebarger 6, Farris 2.