WCDS girls escape in OT
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on December 1, 2010 1:47 PM
Wayne Country Day's girls have their eyes set on another run at a state championship, and becoming a team capable of competing for the title starts now.
The Chargers erased an 11-point third-quarter deficit and held on a for 45-41 overtime victory over visiting Cary Academy on Tuesday night.
Cary Academy led 30-19 late in the third quarter before Sarah Best's 3-pointer pulled Wayne Country Day to within 30-22. Catherine Ford's free throws capped a 9-0 run and cut the margin to 32-28 fewer than three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Wayne Country Day ratcheted up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter and forced seven turnovers. The Chargers also went 8 of 9 from the free throw line during that stretch.
Ford's free throws tied the game at 32-32 with fewer than 90 seconds left in regulation. Cary Academy took a 34-32 lead on Mickayla Sanders' free throws with 15 seconds to play.
Ford's free throws with 13 seconds left tied the game at 34-34. Mack Thompson's putback at the buzzer was off the mark.
Wayne Country Day scored all 11 of its points in overtime at the free throw line. Sanders missed the front-end of a 1-and-1 at the free throw line with Cary Academy trailing 44-41 with 15 seconds to play.
"We just gutted it out," said Wayne Country Day head coach Eric Perry. "Our girls have the hearts of champions. You have to beat us. We're not going to lay down."
The Chargers scored 20 of the 27 points in the second half and overtime at the free throw line. Wayne Country Day finished 26 of 27 at the line while Cary Academy was just 6 of 9.
"That's a good team we played tonight," said Perry. "They were bigger, faster and stronger at every position. Our girls did an excellent job of gutting it out."
Sanders had 20 points and seven rebounds at halftime. In the second half Wayne Country Day held the sophomore forward to 11 points. Sanders finished with 14 rebounds.
"We emphasized at halftime that she had all their points except two," said Perry. "We just made it clear that if she doesn't score they don't win. Our girls drew a couple of charges, got her in foul trouble and that's what we practice for."
Ford led the Chargers with 16 points and seven rebounds. Hannah Pearson added 10 points and 16 rebounds. Thompson had 10 points.
Wayne Country Day (4-0 overall) entertains Waccamaw on Friday.