Jackson’s three lifts Harding over Shelby
Daily Globe Sports Editor
MARION — In a need of a quick relief valve, Marion Harding’s Ariyah Douglas found it in Keyani Jackson.
Running into a double team with the clock winding down, Douglas was forced to give up the ball and delivered a pass to Jackson who drilled the game-winning three-pointer in Thursday’s 41-38 victory over reigning Mid Ohio Athletic Conference champion Shelby.
After going scoreless the first six minutes of the fourth quarter, the Lady Whippets roared back from a 38-32 deficit on a back-toback buckets by Sophia Niese and an offensive stickback by Haylee Baker to tie the game at 38-all with 30 seconds remaining.
After Jackson’s heroics, SHS had six seconds to work with out a timeout and Niese’s tying three-pointer was waved off by the officials who said the shot came after time had expired.
The loss was the first ever in MOAC play for Shelby (0-2, 0-1).
Coming in, the red and gray had won their first 26 games in the conference en route to consecutive league championships. Harding (5-1) improved to 3-0 in the conference.
Trailing 10-4 early in the game, the Whippets closed out the opening stanza with a 12-4 burst and Audi Albert’s last-second laying gave the visitors a 16-14 advantage.
SHS stretched its advantage to seven in the second quarter following a three-pointer by Olivia Baker with 3:16 remaining in the half.
Douglas swished a 35-footer on the final play of the opening half to pull the Presidents within one (23-22) at the intermission.
A 14-9 third quarter featuring seven points from Douglas and six by Nicole Flock pushed Harding ahead 36-32 after three periods. They led all scorers in the contest with 13 and 12, respectively.
Olivia Baker topped Shelby with 11 points — all of them coming during the first two quarters.
The Whippets will look for win No. 1 Saturday afternoon at home against Galion.
Mayer 2 2 6, H. Baker 2 3 7, Niese 3 2 8, Albert 3 0 6, O. Baker 4 0 11, Totals 14 7 38.
SHELBY (38)
MARION HARDING (41)
Iden 1 0 2, Jackson 3 0 7, Steinman-ross 2 0 4, Flock 5 2 12, Douglas 5 1 13, Totals 17 4 41. Shelby ............... 16 7 9 6 —38 Harding ............. 14 8 14 5 —41
Three-point field goals — O. Baker (S) 3, Jackson (M), Douglas (M) 2.