Overtime ends Lady Dragons’ 30-win run
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Cailyn Taylor led the Lady Dragons with 20 points against Austin-East in the region quarterfinal overtime win. - Ellie Hatmaker
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Clinton’s Topanga Easterday beat the halftime horn, drill- ing a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Lady Dragons into the break with the lead against Northview. - Ellie Hatmaker
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Clinton’s Josie Moody is fouled while driving to the basket during the Lady Dragons’ Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game against Austin-East on Friday, Feb. 27. - Ellie Hatmaker
All good things must come to an end.
On Monday night, Clinton High School’s girls basketball team saw its state tournament hopes slip away in a 52-48 overtime loss to Northview Academy in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal at the Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
The setback to the Lady Cougars closed a memorable season that included 30 victories and both the District 4-AAA regular-season and tournament championships.
Clinton (30-3) battled back late and carried momentum into the break. The Lady Dragons scored the final five points of the first half in an 11-second burst to take a 29-28 lead. Topanga Easterday buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Clinton the edge at intermission.
Northview (22-8) answered in the second half and held a 46-42 advantage late in the fourth quarter. Cailyn Taylor drained a long-range jumper, and Addi Gamble followed with a free throw with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining to tie the game. Neither team scored again in regulation.
The Lady Cougars struck first in the extra four-minute period as Kiley Norwood converted with 2:15 left for a 48-46 lead. Savannah Clifford and Nora Kate Auteneach each added a free throw to stretch the margin to 50-46.
Taylor and Gamble each knocked down a free throw in overtime, but Clinton couldn’t find enough offense down the stretch.
The Lady Dragons advanced to the quarterfinal with a 58-44 victory over Austin-East on Friday night at home. It marked Clinton’s third win over the Lady Roadrunners this season, but unlike two regular-season routs, this one required a late surge.
Clinton trailed 44-42 entering the fourth quarter before erupting for a 16-0 run over the final eight minutes.
“I knew this game was going to be tough,” Clinton Coach Alicia Daugherty said. “When you get to this point, every game is going to be tough and every team is going to be good. I’m really proud of the way our girls fought back.
“They’re a good basketball team. They beat Northview two weeks ago and they lost a close game to them in their district tournament. We hit some big shots.”
Taylor led the Lady Dragons with 20 points against Austin-East. Josie Moody added 15, and Gamble finished with 12.
