Hawks outlast determined Colonels in OT

By Robert Edmonds - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FRONT ROYAL -- Northwestern District girls basketball tournament action got under way Friday night when Skyline hosted James Wood in a play-in game.

With the season on the line for both teams and a chance to face top-seeded state powerhouse Millbrook in the semifinals, both squads battled back and forth throughout the night before needing an extra period to determine a winner.

In the end, the Hawks were able to persevere and find their game when it mattered most as they rode their top two seniors to victory in a 56-46 win.

"We didn't want our season to end tonight," Hawks senior Taylor Henry said. "We knew we had to step up or game on defense to win and we started playing our game in overtime. It feels really good to get this win."

Skyline held a 41-37 lead midway through the fourth quarter when the Colonels went on a 7-1 run to take the lead with less than a minute left in regulation.

Whitney Dick made the James Wood advantage two points when she hit the back end of a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining.

With one opportunity left, Skyline took a timeout to draw up what it hoped would be the best opportunity to score.

Henry took possession after the break for Skyline, but the screen that the Hawks set was defended perfectly by the Colonels' defense and Henry drove toward the basket. Limited for most of the night, Henry connected on a huge shot near the top of the key to tie the game and force the overtime.

"Most of the night they had two or three people on me and I knew what my role was going to be, "Henry said. "I knew I had to try to get some other players and step up my defense. When I got my shots, I took them and when I hit that shot at the end, it was an awesome feeling."

Restricted on offense most of the night by a stingy James Wood defense, Skyline finally broke out in the extra frame to outscore the Colonels 12-2 and run off with the win. Four different Hawks scored during overtime, but second-chance points by Oshene Kelly and clutch free throw shooting from Henry were what solidified the victory.

"I thought we played well tonight and I am proud of the effort that our team showed," Colonels coach Rhonda Slider said. "We had a chance to win, but we couldn't hit on some of the shots when we had opportunities at the end.

"The girls really wanted to come out and show they were not the team that lost by 30 points in the last game, and they showed the team that we are capable of being."

Skyline's Quinn Breeden connected on a jumper to take a 48-46 lead for the Hawks early in overtime. When Breeden missed from the field the next trip down the floor, Kelly was able to clean up with an offensive putback to extend the lead.

Kelly made a similar basket moments later when Henry missed on a drive to the basket, scoring two of her game-high 19 points.

Suddenly trailing by six and struggling to connect on the offensive side, James Wood was limited to fouling to keep its season alive.

Henry quickly dashed those hopes, however, connecting on four foul shots down the stretch to put the game out of reach.

"I thought James Wood came out tonight with real intensity," Hawks coach Jim Kenney said. "They had a game plan on defense and executed it to perfection.

"They played really well and we were fortunate to get the game to overtime. That was when things finally started clicking for us."

Skyline's celebration will be a short one, as they now have to focus their efforts on undefeated Millbrook in order to keep their season going.

"They are a really good team and play very well," Kelly said. "We all have to work hard and try hard against them and play the best game that we can."