Sports
Alexander Forces Overtime to Win District Title
< < Back toLeah Richardson’s drive and layup with 28 seconds remaining gave the Alexander Lady Spartans their first lead of the game, but they held on for the 39-36 win over Wheelersburg to be crowned district champions.
Wheelersburg dominated the first half, and led 29-21 after a first half that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. The second half started slow as neither team could get anything going from the field. They combined for just 6 points in the third quarter, but Alexander finally came alive in the fourth.
The Lady Pirates mustered just a single point in the final period of regulation, but still led 33-27 with three minutes left to play. A 3-pointer by Rachel Richardson, just her second made field goal of the game, put Alexander within three. After a couple minutes of turnovers back and forth, Alexis Mohler nailed a corner three on a dish from Leah Richardson to tie the game at 33.
Wheelersburg scored the first three points of the extra period, and looked like it was going to walk away with the win, but then Leah Richardson took over. She sunk two free throws with 57 seconds left to play to pull the Lady Spartans within one, then finished with her left hand on a strong, crafty drive to give Alexander the lead.
After a loose ball ended up in the hands of the Lady Pirates on their final possession, the Lady Spartans forced a tough shot and Leah Richardson came up with her sixth rebound of the game. She ran a few extra seconds off the clock with the outlet to Jala Mace, who sunk her two free throws with 2 seconds left to seal the district title for Alexander.
The Lady Spartans will continue their road to the Schottenstein Center when they play the undefeated Ironton Lady Tigers in the regional semifinals Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Logan High School. Ironton defeated Alexander 67-33 in the first meeting between them.