RICHWOOD — North Union erased a 20-point deficit but Amanda-Clearcreek came through in the final seconds to advance 62-61 in the Central District Division V tournament.
The Aces, a No. 14 seed, led by 17 at halftime and were up 43-23 early in the third when North Union, the No. 3 seed, started to turn things around with its pressure.
The Wildcats forced the Aces into seven turnovers in the third quarter and converted those into 11 points to help close the period with the score at 52-44 still in favor of the Aces.
After the Aces opened the fourth with a three from Hayden Plank, North Union scored the next 10 points – seven from turnovers – to close to within a point.
The Aces added a free throw and then NU tied the game. After another pair of AC free throws, NU tied the score again. Another pair of free throws had AC up 60-58 with 37 seconds left.
The Wildcats got the ball to Kailin McElroy in the corner who popped a three-pointer that gave them their first lead since early in the first quarter.
The Aces then worked through the NU pressure looking for the right opportunity and found it when Taylor Evans fed Abbie Leist down low. She made a move around her defender to make a shot that put AC back on top with six seconds left.
The Wildcats pushed the ball up the floor and got off a shot, but it was off the mark and the Aces had survived.
“That last shot was a designed pick and roll,” AC coach Tim Leist said. “I told Taylor, I said, just pick and roll with Abbie, and if you can get downhill or dish it off to Abbie, try to get something going towards the rim, and then she drew the help side, and Abbie had a big shot, and, you know, it’s a proud poppa moment.
“I’m not going to lie; it’s a proud dad moment.”
AC struggled through 16 turnovers in the second half.
“That’s a credit to them for sticking to their game plan,” Leist said. “And credit our girls for hanging in there. I never got upset; this is just a tough environment. Gyms like this aren’t around much anymore – it was so loud. I’m just super proud of our girls.”
Hayden Plank and Makenna Singleton led the Aces with 13 points each while Evans and Leist each contributed 11.
Kennedy Harrah led North Union with 21 points, including NU’s first 12 points in the opening three minutes of the second half. Glory Blevins put in 17.
AC had a 28-19 rebounding edge with Singleton leading the Aces with six while Kailyn Congrove had eight for the Wildcats.
For the second straight season, the Aces have ended North Union’s season. The Wildcats finish up the year with a 19-4 record, having won their division of the Central Buckeye Conference.
The Aces (10-13) will next travel to No. 4 Utica (18-4) Tuesday night. AC fell to Utica by a point in a January home game earlier this season.
Amanda-Clearcreek 62, North Union 61
Amanda-Clearcreek — Hayden Plank 4-2-13, Makenna Singleton 5-0-13, Taylor Evans 3-5-11, Kirra Wiseman 1-0-3, Kaylie Wilson 1-0-3, Channing Riley 3-2-8, Abbie Leist 4-3-11. Three-point goals — Plank (3), Singleton (3), Wiseman, Wilson. Totals — 21-34 12-13 62.
North Union — Kailin McElroy 3-1-8, Glory Blevins 6-4-17, Gabby Lindsey 5-0-10, Kennedy Harrah 7-6-21, Kailyn Colegrove 1-3-5. Three-point goals — McElroy, Blevins, Harrah. Totals — 22-52 14-17 61.
Quarter scores 1 2 3 4 F
Am.-Clearcreek 20 18 14 10 62
Norh Union 11 10 23 17 61
