Playing without senior starter Megan McCarty, who sat out following the funeral of her grandfather; and also seeing three other starters foul out at critical junctions of the game; the Switzerland County Lady Pacers fell to Oldenburg Academy on Monday night in overtime by a score of 59-58.
Morgan Ross was the first to go, fouling out with 3:44 to play in the contest and the game tied at 44-44. She was followed by leading scorer Courtney Cole, who was sent to the bench at the 2:49 mark and the game tied at 47-47.
The back and forth game came literally right down to the wire, as Oldenburg celebrated an apparent victory as Switzerland County apparently couldn’t get a shot off at the buzzer.
An official, however, had another view, and he whistled Oldenburg’s Kendra Getz with a foul with no time remaining on the clock and the Lady Twisters holding a 49-47 lead.
The foul sent senior April Thieman to the line with no time remaining and no margin for error. She responded by making both freethrows – tying the game at 49-49 and sending everyone to a four minute overtime period.
The Lady Pacers grabbed the lead on a basket by Tanya Sefton, but Oldenburg got it back on a traditional three-point play by Amanda Dickman. That basket and foul came at the expense of Switzerland County’s fourth starter, as April Thieman joined her teammates on the bench after being disqualified on fouls.
Maggie Armstrong then put Switzerland County back in front with a jumper; but Oldenburg got three straight points to lead by two.
Maggie Armstrong then countered with a pair of key freethrows to tie the game, but Kendra Getz made a runner in the lane that sent the Lady Twisters back in front.
With 34-seconds remaining, Amber Smith drilled a big three-pointer that put Switzerland County back in front, but Catherine Fiutem raced through the lane and made a floater that provided Oldenburg with its final margin of victory, 59-58.
Courtney Cole led the Lady Pacers with 19 points; while sophomore Maggie Armstrong had an impressive game, finishing with 13. Kristen Perry had eight points, including a run of six straight at a key time in the third period; and April Thieman finished with six. Both Morgan Ross and Amber Smith added five; and Tanya Sefton provided two points.