Sports
Alexander Uses Clutch Steals to Overcome North Adams
By: Alex Harrison
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The Alexander Lady Spartans needed late game heroics to defeat the North Adams Lady Green Devils 45-42, but the end of the first half may have been key for Alexander’s second consecutive District Championship.
In the corner and beyond the arc Rachael Richardson stood. She knocked in the three-ball and was fouled on the shot. With 20 seconds until halftime, Richardson completed the four-point play and drew to within one, 22-21.
On North Adams’ next play, Jala Mace made a steal and passed to Kena Rice for the lay-up just before the buzzer.
Alexander went from down 22-17 to being up 23-22 within 20 seconds.
Mace made another defensive stand before the final buzzer that saved the game and Alexander’s season. The Lady Spartans had a one-point lead in the closing seconds, but the Lady Green Devils had taken possession. Before the ball could be moved across the court, Mace ripped it away and passed to Rice for the bucket.
Alexander up 45-42, North Adams could not convert on a desperation shot. Alexander moved on.
The Mace-Rice connection was crucial for Alexander because those clutch buckets dropped when few other shots did.
Leah Richardson had a game high 21 points despite missing 10 shots behind the arc. Alexis Mohler made only one three and air-balled her first two attempts, but made three important free throws.
The Lady Spartans had trouble keeping the ball in the fourth quarter, but they kept the win. Alexander (22-3) moves to the regional semi-finals. The Lady Spartans fell to Ironton in the same spot last season, but a new opponent stands in Alexander’s way.
Alexander will see the winner of Fairland and Lynchburg-Clay Wednesday at Logan High School.