Furious Adams Central Comeback Forces OT - GICC Hangs On 41-40

(Grand Island, NE) - It was a wild roller coaster of a game between Adams Central and Central Catholic girls on Thursday night at Crusader Gym in the C1-9 Sub District Tournament championship. GICC would sneak out a 41-40 win in overtime. The Crusaders would have an 11-point lead at the halftime break, 22-11 highlighted by 10 first-half points by Avery O'Boyle for GICC. The third quarter would grind along with only a total of nine points scored between the two teams with GICC having the advantage 5-4 and taking a 27-15 lead into the fourth quarter. The Crusader lead in the fourth quarter would balloon to 14 in the early moments of the fourth at 31-17. Adams Central would then take the game in their hands and make a valiant comeback to tie the game at 37 all to force overtime. The Crusaders who rarely make substitutions would have to play without starter Carolyn Maser for the final 3:03 of regulation as the senior would foul out. Playing in her place was sophomore Reegan Reilly. 

With 2:56 left in the fourth quarter GICC had a ten-point lead of 33-23. Then at 1:51 AC would cut the deficit to 34-28. In the closing seconds of the game Megyn Scott would hit two free throws to tie the game at 37 all. In OT it would turn into a free throw game. With two free throws with 3:43 left in OT Crusaders would have a two-point lead 39-37. Two free throws from AC would tie the game at 39 all. With 2:40 left AC would hit another free throw to take a 40-39 lead. Then Bryndal Moody would make a free throw to tie the game at 1:20 left in overtime. After forcing a miss from the Patriots, GICC would attack the basket and would get Avery O'Boyle to make one of two free throws for a 41-40 lead. In the final 8 seconds of overtime Ava Katzberg shot a corner three-pointer that was off, GICC would gather the rebound to secure the win. 

With the loss, Adams Central is now 19-5. The Crusaders with the win are now 22-2. Late Thursday night the official pairings came out from the NSAA for the district final round on Friday, February 23rd. Adams Central will host Arlington. Grand Island Central Catholic will host West Point-Beemer. Tip-off times have yet to be announced. Stay up to date with the KRGI Sports Network for more details soon. 

GICC - 8  14  5  10  4 - 41

AC - 4  7  4  22  3  - 40 

Crusader Scoring: O'Boyle 14 - Tibbett 5 - M.Herbek 2 - Maser 9 - Moody 11 

Patriot Scoring: Lancaster 4 - Weichman 9 - Trausch 2 - Nienhueser 10 - Scott 15