With their 57-56 overtime win over visiting Ganado on Nov. 4 the Lady Roadrunners have now played four games this season with two of them having gone to overtime and one other decided by a single point. Lady Roadrunner fans have certainly been treated to some exciting finishes. Ganado came off the bus firing and played well in the first eight minutes doubling up Holbrook with a 12-6 lead. In the second period they added one additional point to that margin to lead by seven at the half.
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Holbrook struggled shooting from both inside and outside in the first half, but Megan Cumming’s initial three-point attempt early in the third period found the bottom of the net and sparked the team’s shooting touch. Cummings added a second three and Mika Joe hit from distance twice in the period helping Holbrook overtake the Hornets and take a 32-28 lead into the fourth.
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In the final period Ganado’s Abigail Benally could not be stopped. She drained five threes in the period to go along with four regular points helping her team build an eight point lead with 1:24 left on the clock. Just when it looked bleak for the Lady Roadrunners, Holbrook got critical three-point shots from Desirae Bain and Joe helping trim the lead to five with just 18 seconds left.
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Holbrook toughened up on defense getting a five second call and two steals to climb back into the game. Cummings put back of a missed free throw brought Holbrook within two points at 53-55 with seven seconds left. Holbrook’s defense forced one Hornet time out. On the final play of regulation, Madison Chappell stole an inbound pass at half court and drove down the left side for a game tying lay up sending the game to overtime.
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As crazy as the final minute of regulation was, the overtime session was calm with Holbrook getting their final points on an offensive rebound and put back from Matehya Aberle. Holbrook then held the ball until the final seconds when the Hornets had one final chance to seal the win with a steal and a layup, which just missed leaving the Lady Roadrunners with a 57-56 overtime win and a 3-1 season mark.
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“Crazy game. We literally and figuratively stole one tonight. I give credit to my girls. Even when things weren’t going well in the first half, we told them just keep taking those shots and eventually they will fall. Once they did we gained some confidence. Ganado’s Abigail Benally, wow, what a player. We could not stop her. She carried her team all the way to the final seconds before we were able to hold on. Defensively we had three great stops. Two on inbound situations and one on the final steal by Madison. When you trail by eight points in a game with less than 90 seconds left and again by five points with 18 seconds left you really aren’t supposed to win the game. A lot of things went right for us down the stretch and we escaped with an important power point win. Proud of my girls,” stated Holbrook Coach Greg Perkins.
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Chappell led the team in scoring with 16 points. Cummings added 15; Joe, 11; Aberle, 8; Talynn Spencer, 4; and Bain added 3. Holbrook made just one free throw in six attempts. They did make eight three-point shots, all in the second half to help in the win.
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Ganado was paced by Benally with 31 points. Deana Curley added 8, as did Jayla McIntosh. The Hornets made seven treys, all by Benally, and went five for 13 at the line.
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Holbrook improved to 3-1 on the season and hosted Fountain Hills last Friday. The Roadrunners will play in the Round Valley Tournament this weekend with games played Thursday thru Saturday.
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