For such a cold night, it sure was a hot game.
And, at the end of regulation, the game was so good – it needed four extra minutes.
And, at the end of those, it needed four more.
But after two extra overtime periods of back and forth, on the edge of your seat basketball, Rising Sun pulled away late and defeated Switzerland County by a 56-51 score.
It was a game filled with runs on offense and excellent defense; with Rising Sun jumping out to a 9-4 lead early in the first quarter, only to see Switzerland County rally back with six straight points on a freethrow by Brooke Todd, a basket by Hailee Lay, and a three-pointer by Makenzie Mathews.
Rising Sun then answered with a three-pointer from Ali Bostic and a basket by Kennedy Oser, and after one quarter the Lady Shiners led by a 14-10 count.
Rising Sun would stretch its lead in the second period, moving out to a 21-13 advantage in the quarter’s first three minutes; but again the Lady Pacers wouldn’t fold, getting a three-pointer from Hailee Lay and a basket by Kelsi Konkle to move back within three.
Then it was Rising Sun’s turn to respond, and the Lady Shiners got a basket from Amber Sporleder and freethrows from Sydney Elliott, and at the half the Lady Pacers trailed by seven, 25-18.
After Brittany Camden opened the third quarter with a bucket for Rising Sun, Switzerland County went on another run, getting baskets by Bre Ricketts and Makenzie Mathews and a three-pointer from Mercedes Parham to draw back within two. Another basket by Brittany Camden stopped that run; and a steal and a layup from Brooke Todd matched those points, and the teams headed to the final quarter of regulation with Rising Sun leading, 29-27.
Switzerland County tied the game early in the final stanza on a basket from Makenzie Mathews; but Rising Sun got a pair of freethrows from Sydney Willhite.
The Lady Pacers then took the lead on another three-pointer by Mercedes Parham; but Rising Sun came right back with a traditional three-point play by Kennedy Oser. When Sydney Elliott scored moments later, again the Lady Shiners moved out to a 36-32 lead.
Brooke Todd stopped that run with a runner in the lane; but Kennedy Oser scored again inside in a see-saw final period.
With Rising Sun ahead by four, Switzerland County answered with a three-point play by Eve Galbreath; and when Brooke Todd hit the front end of a one-and-one with 22-seconds to play, the game was tied at 42-42. Her second attempt bounced off, however, and neither team could find the range as the period closed, and the game headed to overtime.
Switzerland County opened the first overtime period with a basket by Brooke Todd, but Ali Bostic banked home a three-pointer to retake the lead for Rising Sun; and Brittany Camden followed that with an inside basket, and the Lady Shiners held a three point lead.
Again Switzerland County roared back, with Brooke Todd knifing through the lane for a basket, and Kelsi Konkle followed that with a rebound and a baseline jumper that gave the Lady Pacers a 48-47 lead with 1:33 to go.
Brittany Camden then missed a pair of freethrows; but after Switzerland County called a timeout, Brittany Camden came up with a big steal that led to Rising Sun calling a timeout with 42-seconds to play and down by one.
Switzerland County made a defensive stand and got the ball, and with just 17-seconds to go, Mercedes Parham was fouled and sent to the line for a pair of freethrows. The junior was clutch under pressure, converting both attempts, and the Lady Pacers were in front by three, 50-47.
Rising Sun raced upcourt, and after some quick ball movement, Sydney Elliott found herself free for a three-pointer. With just four-seconds to go, the shot found the range, and as Switzerland County prepared to celebrate a win – suddenly it was Rising Sun celebrating a tie game and a second overtime period, 50-50.
The Lady Shiners rode that momentum in the second overtime, scoring the first five points on a freethrow from Ali Bostic and buckets by Brittany Camden and Ali Bostic.
Switzerland County got a freethrow from Mercedes Parham, but that was the only point that the Lady Pacers would score in the extra period, and another freethrow by Ali Bostic sealed the final score in an exhausting and exciting game, with Rising Sun winning by a score of 56-51.
Brooke Todd led Switzerland County with 12 points on the night; while Kelsi Konkle was also in double figures with 10. Mercedes Parham had nine points; Makenzie Mathews had seven, and Eve Galbreath had six. Hailee Lay contributed five points and Bre Ricketts chipped in two.
It was Senior Night for Rising Sun, and the Lady Shiners’ three seniors – Brittany Camden (14), Kennedy Oser (12), and Ali Bostic (10) all finished in double figures.
Switzerland County now readies itself for the final stretch run of the regular season, starting tonight (Thursday) with a game at South Ripley. The Lady Pacers then return home this Tuesday for a game against Southwestern, and then wrap the regular season next Friday with a game against Madison Shawe on “Mike Night”.
In Tuesday night’s junior varsity contest, Rising Sun defeated Switzerland County 29-20.
Megan Chitwood had six points to lead Switzerland County, with Regan Chitwood finishing with five. Courtney Pedraza had four points, Hailee Lay had three points, and Baylie Scudder had two points.
Tiffany Vinup led Rising Sun with 13 points.