Lady Blackcats fall in overtime at Salem Super Sectionals

By Mike McGinnis

The season ended for the Goreville High School girl’s basketball team at the Salem Class 1A supersectional last Monday night.  The Lady Blackcats lost in overtime to Cowden-Herrick-Beecher City, by the score of 70-57.  Goreville finished its season with a fine 31-2 record.

The Lady Blackcats trailed 9-7 with 4:38 left in the first quarter before they closed the period with a 6-0 run on a drive by Haley Darnell, and two free throws and a bucket by Alison Webb, to give them a 13-9 lead heading into the second quarter.  Goreville was ahead 17-13 about halfway through the frame when the Lady Hornets scored seven straight points to put them up 20-17.  A three-pointer by Darnell with time running out tied the game (27-27) at halftime.

Goreville quickly took a 33-27 lead less than a minute into the third quarter on a Webb three point play and three-pointer by Jessica Wright.  They had a 40-36 lead at the 2:35 mark, but from there, CHBC went on an 8-0 spurt to take a 44-40 lead going into the fourth period.  The Lady Hornets led 55-52 with 1:46 left in regulation.  A score inside by Webb got Goreville within 55-54, then Taylor Odom made a free throw to tie it up at 55-55, sending the game into overtime.  In the extra session, CHBC outscored the Lady Blackcats 15-2 for the win.

Alison Webb topped all scorers with 26 points, while Micah Jones had 25 points for the Lady Hornets.  Scoring for Goreville: Webb-26; Odom-10; Pritchett-8; Darnell-7; Sullivan-3; Wright-3.

Goreville won its third straight Class 1A sectional championship last Thursday by defeating Bridgeport Red Hill, 72-33, at Goreville. With the win, the Lady Blackcats advanced to Monday night’s  Salem supersectional match-up with last year’s state runner-up Cowden-Herrick.  The victory improved Goreville’s record to 31-1.

The Lady Salukis held a 5-2 lead with 4:55 left in the opening quarter.  Over the next two minutes, Jessica Wright made a jumper from the lane, Allison Sullivan hit a three-pointer, and Taylor Odom scored twice inside to put the Lady Blackcats up 11-5.  They were ahead 17-11 at the end of the period.  Goreville quickly pushed its lead to 22-11 at the start of the second quarter on a lay-up by Wright and a Brittey Pritchett three-pointer.  With just under four minutes remaining, Haley Darnell scored on her second offensive rebound and put-back, increasing the margin to 28-14.  Goreville’s lead was 37-19 at the half.  The Lady Blackcats opened the third quarter with a 9-0 spurt led by Darnell (5), Alison Webb (2), and Sullivan (2), extending their lead to 46-19 at the 4:31 mark.  They had a 57-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter and remained in command the rest of the way.  Alison Webb paced Goreville with 15 points, while Red Hill’s Tori Paulin scored 10 points.

Scoring for Goreville: A. Webb-15; Odom-12; Darnell-11; Wright-8; Pritchett-6; Schaede-6; K. Webb-6; Sullivan-5; Snell-3.