COUNTY CLASH LFO girls, boys outlast rivals to win season openers

Offense was tough to come by for the Heritage Lady Generals and the LFO Lady Warriors last Tuesday night, but the two Catoosa County rivals still managed to put on a thrilling show as the home team went 8-of-12 from the free throw line in overtime to beat Heritage, 39-31.

LFO led 15-5 after the first quarter, but Heritage would continue to chip away at the lead throughout the remainder of regulation.

A put-back by Sydnee St. John finally gave the Lady

Generals a 27-26 lead with 1:01 left to play in the fourth quarter. Heritage nearly came up with a steal moments later, but LFO would get the ball back on the alternate possession after a tie-up and Milijah Williams would get around the Heritage defense on the baseline for a basket that put the Lady Warriors back in front by a point with 32.5 seconds to play.

Heritage came right back as freshman Lauren Mock connected on a short, one-handed jumper in the paint to put the visitors back in front with 20 seconds remaining. However, LFO’S Ateana Copeland would be fouled on a drive to the hoop with 4.8 seconds left on the clock. Copeland would miss the first shot, but drained the second to send the game to overtime, tied at 29 apiece.

The Lady Warriors (1-0) would get the first basket in overtime as Mackenzie Begley ripped an 18-foot jumper from just inside the top of the key with 3:28 go and free throws would stretch out their lead to 33-28.

Heritage would briefly pull back to within three points with 1:44 to go on an Elli Jost bucket, but Williams would go 4-for-4 from the line in overtime to help seal the victory.

Williams finished with 11 points on the night, followed by freshman Christina Collins with nine. Begley scored four of her eight points in overtime, while Dekeia Rowe finished with six points, half coming on three free throws in the extra session.

Mock had nine points for Heritage in her first varsity game, while Ariana Camp picked up seven points.

LFO boys 56, Heritage 45

In the nightcap, LFO built a