BROOKSIDE TOPS KEYSTONE IN OT

Cardinals force Wildcats into turnovers that help seal early season PAC victory

In a game with not much offense, it was the defense that made the difference as host Brookside staved off a spirited Keystone comeback to down the Wildcats, 42-35, in overtime on Dec. 5.

The Cardinals (3-0, 2-0 PAC) took a 22-21 lead into the third quarter. After initially giving up a basket, they buckled down for a 9-0 run led by a stingy defense and the stellar play of Hannah Begany and Ellexis Tracy.

Brookside coach Brad Barhorst was glad his defense ratched up

the pressure in the third.

“Our press was just OK tonight. We didn’t get as many turnovers as we did in the first two games. But I thought our half-court zone defense was really good. They had their hands up and it was really making it hard for them to get going.”

Begany finished with eight points, and Tracy led the team with nine.

In the blink of an eye, it was 31-23, Brookside with the crowd going crazy.

But the Wildcats (1-4, 0-2 PAC) weren’t done yet.

En route to 18 points and 13 rebounds, senior Madi Herrington notched a handful of free throws, and one big 3-pointer as she helped tie the game at 35-35 with 15 seconds to play. After a frustrating foul from Herrington sent Brookside to the line, she was gifted another chance as the Cardinals failed to convert, sending the game into overtime.

Having battled hard all game, Herrington’s heroics did not go unnoticed by her coach.

“Madi made a great shot there at the end with that 3-pointer to tie it up and to take it into overtime,” Keystone coach Scott Terry said. “Not the greatest decision to foul, but fortunately that girl missed the free throw.”

Brookside buckled down on defense in the fourth quarter, and another foul took Herrington out of the contest with two minutes left. The mistakes and turnovers piled up as Keystone couldn’t find the basket.

Those mistakes are something that Terry hopes the Wildcats grow out of.

“I don’t fault my girls’ effort, I do fault our decision making and our turnovers,” Terry said. “You are

not going to win a whole lot of games when you turn the ball over like that. We have been shooting ourselves in

the foot all season long so far with those.”

Peyton Halleen added eight points for the Wildcats. Having battled through another tough PAC matchup, Begany is enjoying the ride three games into the season as the Cardinals remain undefeated and are starting to turn some heads.

“We are definitely doing a lot better throughout the year and have grown as a team and are working together this year,” Begany said.

Barhorst decribed the game as a typical PAC contest.

“They hit some tough shots in the fourth quarter, they’re competitors,” he said. “I love the way our girls responded. They didn’t panic when they tied it up and we had to go to overtime. We outscored them 7-0 in overtime. They just came out and made some plays. I wish we would have made our free throws.”

Brookside went 8-of-23 from the line while Keystone finished 8-of-14.

“We are definitely doing a lot better throughout the year and have grown as a team and are working together this year.”

— Brookside’s Hannah Begany

JEN FORBUS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL The ball pops loose as Keystone’s Shelby Fortune and Brookside’s Myra Richter vie for it on Dec. 5.

JEN FORBUS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Keystone’s Taylor Stefan looks to pass as Brookside’s Ellexis Tracy and Hanna Begany defend on Dec. 5.

JEN FORBUS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Brookside’s Jenna Rothman tries to maintain control of the ball as Keystone’s Madi Herrington (2) and Ashely Elliott try to steal it on Dec. 5.

JEN FORBUS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Keystone’s Taylor Stefan and Brookside’s Ashley Wallace face off for the jump ball.