GIRLS BASKETBALL: Lady Falcons knock out Cobden
For the second year in a row, Elverado will try for a girls basketball Regional championship after knocking out the Cobden Appleknockers 36-29 in Tuesday night's semifinal at Trico High School in Campbell Hill.
The Appleknockers were the team that ended the Lady Falcons' season in 2014 in the Regional final, and recently defeated EHS 51-39 in regular season action a little over a week ago.
"These girls just wanted to win tonight," said Elverado head coach Rasheeda Love. "Last time we saw Cobden at their place, we lost by twelve, and I think my kids came with a chip on their shoulder and felt like they had to avenge themselves. They weren't ready for the season to be over. They busted their butts tonight and played really hard."
The decisive push was made in the final three minutes of the first half, when the Lady Falcons rattled off the last seven points of the second quarter to break a 16-16 tie and head into the break with a 23-16 lead. All seven of those points came at the free throw line.
Cobden drew within four at 27-23 early in the fourth quarter, but the Falcons had plenty of fight left in them. Another 7-0 run made it 34-23 with under three minutes to play when some fireworks went off near mid-court - and in the stands.
Cobden's Sandra Hartline, who led the Appleknockers with ten points despite being plagued with foul trouble, went down hard near the center circle after tripping over an Elverado defender. A brief scuffle ensued between players from each team, which led to at least one fan ejection and a twenty-minute delay while things got sorted out.
When the dust settled, the Lady Falcons finished off the win with two free throws from Cheyenne Abbadusky with just over a minute to play.
Abbadusky led EHS with 15 points, but it was freshman Hannah Alstat's 14 points that provided a somewhat surprising boost for the Lady Falcons.
"I'm really impressed with (Alstat)," said Love. "Hannah has the ability to be really great and do some really great things at Elverado. Her quickness is something that really helps her driving to the basket. Her shot has improved, and defensively she gets it. As a young kid to provide that kind of spark off the bench, to potentially start, that's the lift we needed tonight from both her and (freshman) Kennedy Kimmel."
"Kennedy gave us some really big minutes tonight. Those two have been playing together for a really long time, and they get understand the intensity and the level they have to play at. Getting them to be consistent with that will make a world of difference."
Kimmel (4 points), Brooke Whittington (2) and Kylee Bedar (1) also scored for Elverado. Kaitlin Lively, Emma Bigham and Tori Ehlers also saw big minutes for the Lady Falcons.
EHS (10-17) will meet Steeleville on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. to determine a Regional champ.