Former Major League pitcher Left
y Gomez is credited with the saying, “I’d rather be lucky than good.” And though they’re good, the Lady Wildcats basketball team members can appreciate the phrase after escaping South Christian’s gym with a 54-49 victory to claim their 13th straight this season.
As the swarm of young fans chanted “undefeated, undefeated” after the final buzzer sounded, Wayland had to be keenly aware it was the beneficiary of an officiating mistake with 34.9 seconds left in the ballgame. The ‘Cats were up 50-49 and ace point guard Presley Hudson was stepping to the free throw line.
Though Hudson is like money in the bank at the line, she missed her first attempt. But no one moved, as if everybody in the house thought she had been awarded two free throws. It actually was a one-and-one because South Christian had just been whistled for its ninth, not 10th, team foul.
The referees conferred and it was noted that by rule it should be regarded as a jump ball because neither team could be said to have possession, nobody fought for a rebound. The possession arrow, as luck would have it, was pointed in Wayland’s direction, so it was awarded the ball out of bounds.
The Sailors nine seconds later fouled Hudson, who this time buried both attempts (this one WAS the 10th team foul). South Christian failed to score on its next possession and fouled Hudson again, this time with 6.9 seconds left, and she swished two more to put the game on ice.
It seemed strange to happen in a gym so many people over the years have sworn it’s difficult to win in because of accusations refs are biased in favor of the home team. Beating South at South often is regarded as one of the most difficult tasks a team faces all season.
But some would maintain the Wildcats should have never let the game get that close. They blew out South Christian in the first quarter 14-2 behind a couple of three-point field goals by junior guard Ali Martus and some strong rebounding from senior forward Morgan Winger.
Winger’s performance early was more than encouraging because the Wildcats did not have the services of junior forward Hope Dollarhide, who was home ill. Dollarhide and Winger are the top rebounders for a team that seriously lacks height.
A rather determined Sailors’ junior point guard Jenn DeBoer was doing a gallant, if frantic job of guarding Hudson and she held the genuine Miss Basketball candidate to just four points and no threes in the entire first half. Because Wayland failed to score a single point in a six-minute stretch in the late first quarter and midway through the second, DeBoer and her teammates were able to creep to within seven points, 23-16, at intermission.
So South Christian actually outscored the Wildcats 14-9 and 19-15 in the middle two quarters behind some nifty three-point shooting and heavy scoring from junior forward Markayla Vander. The Sailors even took the lead early in the fourth period, 41-40 on a basket by junior guard Zoe Hulst. They almost dared to be great by taking a three-point lead, 49-46, on a pair of free throws by Sydney DeYoung with just 2:17 left.
But South Christian failed to score the rest of the way.
Martus nailed a clutch three-point field goal to bring the ‘Cats to within one and she hit Hudson for an easy layup under the hoop to stake Wayland to a one-point lead. That set the stage for the “lucky free throws” caper.
Senior guard Caroline (C.J) Miller drew the assignment of guarding DeBoer and was spelled occasionally by Hudson and Ali Cutler. Though DeBoer scored seven points in the first two periods, she was held to just one three the entire second half.
Though Hudson was held to four at intermission, she picked up 17 in the second half, making eight of nine free throws down the stretch. Hudson finished with 21 points, Martus had 13, including three threes, Winger had eight and Cutler seven.
Both DeBoer and Vander finished with 10 points.
Those 13-0 Wildcats will have a week to rest up before they face Ottawa Hills at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6.
PHOTO: Ali Martus (23) and Morgan Winger (15), shown here against Hastings, both played pivotal roles in the Wildcats’ victory at South Christian Friday evening. (Photo courtesy Kenny Ritz)
