Lady Rams Knock Out Jaguars in OT
In an electrifying start to the Eastern Plains Conference tournament, the #4 seed Greene Central Lady Rams staged a remarkable comeback to edge out their fierce rivals, the #5 seed Farmville Central Jaguars, in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second. The longstanding rivalry, fueled by county lines and a history of intense matchups, added an extra layer of anticipation to this first-round clash.
The game, a nail-biter from start to finish, showcased the tenacity and resilience of both teams. Greene Central, with a season record of 9-16 (6-7 in conference play), hosted Farmville Central, who came in with a 10-12 record (5-8 in conference). The Lady Rams, having secured a buzzer-beater victory over the Jaguars in their previous encounter, knew they were in for a battle against a team hungry for revenge.
The Lady Rams took a narrow lead into halftime, up 24-20. Both schools were victim of eye brow raising officiating that had crowds from both sides erupting all game. Rams head coach Tammy Elbright made sure her girls remained focus.
"I think they pushed through adversity... I told them they cannot complain about it; they have to leave it all on the court tonight, and losing was not an option"
However, Farmville Central, refusing to go down without a fight, outscored Greene Central 15-11 in the third quarter, thanks to a standout performance from Jamya Saddler, who poured in 7 of her total 20 points in the third period.
The Rams were facing an eight-point deficit with just two minutes left in regulation. Arlisha Mason, refusing to let the game slip away, ignited a comeback with critical baskets, tying the game and forcing overtime. The tension mounted in the extra period as the Rams once again found themselves down by eight. This time, it was An'Nysha Wooten who took charge, scoring 8 straight points to erase the deficit. With the game tied and only seconds remaining, a turnover by Farmville Central gave Mason the opportunity to drive to the basket for a game-winning layup, sealing the victory for Greene Central.
Mason's heroics were complemented by her reflections on the game, stating, "I just knew I had to take over for my team. This win is something we really wanted."
Her confidence was evident, not just in her game-winning play but throughout the match, as she led her team with 29 points. Wooten, who finished with 18 points, drew motivation from the rivalry's intensity, especially from the Farmville fans' taunts, remarking, "The Farmville fans were saying to me 'This our House' when we were down, and I couldn't allow that to happen."
The victory sets up a daunting challenge for the Lady Rams, who will face the top-seeded North Pitt at 7:30 PM on Wednesday at North Pitt. With this win, Greene Central not only continues their journey in the tournament but also solidifies their recent dominance in this heated rivalry, having won two of the three matchups this season and three of the last five encounters.
GC Points-
A. Mason 29, A. Wooten 18, A. Mumford 4, S. Lancaster 2, Karma Schuster 2, Jayce Russel 2
FC Points-
J. Saddler 22, N. Phillips 16, M. Denham 6, C. Wright 5, M. Cook 2, K. Joyner 2.
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