Girls Basketball Fights Into Overtime Against Corvallis

11 January, 2024- The girls opened up the varsity portion of the 6 pack Thursday night against the Corvallis Spartans. 

Starting on the court for the Panthers was freshman Isabella Names, junior Kamryn Winkler, and seniors Ashley Barba, Tatum Lushenko, and McKenzie Wells. Junior Hadley Craig and senior Emily Newbeck would later enter the court as well.

The first quarter of the matchup was strategic: both teams were great on defense and held each other to low scores as they were feeling out each other's defenses. The Panthers drew first blood, but the Spartans quickly turned the tide, and as the first quarter unfolded, the score would be at a tight 9-12. The second quarter would follow the same pattern: another tight defensive battle leading to the Spartans only adding seven points to their initial score and the Panthers adding four. At half, the scoreboard read 13-19, and both teams were still quite tense. Names led this half in points, having four herself, and Newbeck led it in rebounds, having three in total. Lushenko, Wells, Craig, Barba, and Newbeck all contributed two points respectively.

The halftime break set the stage for an action-packed second half, with both teams aiming to secure a victory on the court. After a lot of back and forth in the third quarter, the score was 30-35, and it was only a matter of time before the Panthers would break through. As time dwindles in the fourth, the Spartans continue to score, but no point is unanswered as the Panthers fight to take the lead. With 4:12 left in the game, Central takes a crucial time out and regroups. They need three points to take the lead for the first time since their initial score in the first quarter. After the timeout seizes, both groups continue to battle it out, and with 3:20 left, Ashley Barba shoots a three to close the gap to one point, the score now being 41-42. Finally, the Panthers grab the lead as McKenzie Wells makes a two-point shot. Sadly, the mini-victory would be short-lived as Corvallis answered back right away and took back the lead. With 1:05 left, the Spartans held the score at 50-52. With the finish line right around the corner, Hadley Craig sank a two with 53 seconds left, tying the game 52-52.

The seconds passed quickly, and everyone was on the edge of their seats; all the Spartans needed was to waste time on the clock and score at the last second to break the tie and win. As they dribble down the court, a mistake by a Spartan player ends in the ball being thrown out of bounds and the Panthers getting the ball with 1.6 seconds left. With any hope of capturing the win now, Hadley Craig shoots across the court, and as the buzzer sounds the ball hits the ground: the game is going into overtime.

At this point, everyone in the Pit was on their feet, and the energy was buzzing. Much like the second half, the offenses were locked in, and minimal points were scored without some type of retaliation; for every shot the Spartans made, the Panthers answered. With 50 seconds left in overtime, Central was down by four. Fighting until the end, Hadley draws a foul and makes one of her two shots, closing the gap to two points. The Spartans are unable to score on their possession, and at this point, all the Panthers need is four points to tie. Tatum Lushenko scores half of these needed points, but with only a couple of seconds left, the Spartans hold the ball to let time run out, and the game ends in a devastating Panther loss 67-69.

A respectable fight regardless of the outcome, Craig dominated the court with a total of 25 points. Names, Barba and Newbeck were close behind with 15, 13, and 7 points, respectively.

The girls are ranked number #9 in the state and still have an excellent shot at making the playoffs. Their next game is Thursday the 18th at McKay.