By Drew Terhall
DailyAdvocate.com
ANSONIA — In a sport that went into additional time, the Ansonia protection got here up clutch as sophomore Lydia Hahn acquired the steal and rating with seconds left to offer the Girl Tigers a 62-60 win over Union Metropolis on Dec. 2.
Head coach Connor Custenborder stated it was a staff win. With some accidents and the staff’s two seniors, Brenna and Bailey Schmit, on the bench, the remainder of the staff stepped up.
“Tense, we had two seniors, our main scorers from final yr, in foul bother. The bench stepped up massive time. An actual staff win,” Custenborder stated.
Ansonia was up 25-21 at halftime after Union Metropolis made a three-point shot on the buzzer. Custenborder stated he takes accountability for that made shot by calling the flawed protection in that state of affairs.
The Girl Tigers have been getting turnovers and inflicting chaos with their press protection. Offensively, they made some photographs however couldn’t get sufficient going to construct up a big lead.
After halftime, Union Metropolis began to search out some methods to get via the Ansonia press. Each groups began to get their offense going early within the second half.
As soon as once more, Union Metropolis made a buzzer beater three-pointer to tie the sport, 43-43, within the third quarter.
The 2 groups battled all all through the fourth quarter. Each groups had probabilities to take a lead on the free throw line, however each groups struggled to make sufficient free throws to get to a two-point lead.
With 29.1 seconds left, sophomore Olivia Creager acquired a basket to go up 56-54. And as soon as once more, the Girl Indians went down the courtroom and scored on the buzzer to ship the sport into additional time. Custenborder stated Union Metropolis deserves credit score for making these clutch photographs down the stretch.
Getting into additional time, Brenna Schmit fouled out within the fourth quarter. Throughout additional time, Bailey Schmit fouled out. Custenborder stated even with their major offensive choices out, the staff held robust and fought for the win.
“Two folks that we design our offense round, loads of performs run via them. Women that usually don’t get loads of varsity motion, in observe which are operating our scout staff, got here in and did a extremely good job taking good care of the ball and being in the fitting spot on protection,” Custenborder stated.
Creager and freshman London Reichert each made a free throw down the stretch that led to a 60-60 sport with 21.4 seconds left.
Union Metropolis had the ball and was taking place the courtroom. Earlier than they might cross half courtroom, Hahn stole the ball and acquired the layup with simply two seconds left. The complete courtroom heave from Union Metropolis was large left and Ansonia got here away with the win.
Custenborder stated going via an expertise like that confirmed the staff they’ll get it carried out in crunch time.
“Now we all know that if we’re that state of affairs once more, the second just isn’t too massive for them. They will compete and never get flustered,” Custenborder stated.
Reichert led the staff with 18 factors. Bailey Schmit had 15 and Creager had 10 factors. After zero made threes towards Tri-County North, Ansonia made seven towards Union Metropolis.
Ansonia is now 2-0 and can host Arcanum subsequent on Dec. 7 with the JV beginning at 6 p.m.
Contact Every day Advocate sports activities editor Drew Terhall at [email protected]