Sports Editor

On Saturday, the Buckhorn Lady Wildcats traveled to Memorial Gym to take on the Hazard Lady Bulldogs in a mid-afternoon match up. The Lady Bulldogs took the early lead, but could not hold on as the Lady Wildcats took control. Late in the game, Hazard made a move, and eventually took the lead. However, a last second shot put the game into overtime, and then a second overtime was needed to settle the matter.

The game was tied at two for several minutes until Hazard went on a run that netted them the 10-2 lead. Buckhorn was able to turn the tables in the waning moments, and ended the period trailing 10-8.

A strong defense, and several 3-pt. shots, gave the Lady Wildcats the edge in the second period. A 21-11 advantage in the quarter sent Buckhorn to the locker room with a 29-21 lead.

Buckhorn came out of the break still riding the momentum of the first half, and pushed the advantage to 14-points. Late in the period, however, Hazard began to make a run. The Lady Bulldogs were able to whittle four points off the deficit, leaving them to make up four more (40-36) in the final eight minutes.

The Lady Wildcats hung tough in the fourth quarter, but late in the period one could feel the momentum switching to the Lady Bulldogs. With a minute plus remaining in the game, a shot by Stella Smith gave Hazard their first lead since the opening frame. With time running out, Buckhorn got several shots, but none would go. That is, until Caitlyn Wheeler pulled down an offensive rebound, and put it back at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

Buckhorn took control of the game early in the first overtime period, but could not hold on down the stretch. With 27-seconds remaining in the game, Hazard made up a four-point deficit to force a second overtime. The final shot, again, came at the buzzer. Tayler Niece took the inbound pass with 4.5 seconds, and drove the length of the floor for a lay up to tie the game.

In the second overtime, it looked as if the Lady Wildcats would finally prevail as they took a five-point lead. However, as time was running out, Ashley Hall hit a “3,” and a short jumper in the lane to tie the game at 65. With 7 seconds remaining, Caitlyn Wheeler got off a pass to Miranda Napier on the sideline. Napier was able to split two defenders to get off a shot at the buzzer. The ball rolled around the rim, nicked the backboard, and fell in for the 67-65 Lady Wildcat win.

Buckhorn (67)

Jamey Gilbert 6 (14 rebounds, 5 steals and 1 block), Alesha Staley 10, Paige Napier 13 (6 rebounds), Miranda Napier 20 (3 rebounds and 2 blocks), and Catlin Wheeler 18 (6 rebounds, 5 assists, 9 steals and 2 blocks).

Hazard (65)

A. Engle 14, S. Smith 6, A. Hall 5, T. Niece 16, V. Combs 12, M. Pratt 8, M. Williams 2 and K. Caudill 2.