MIDLAND, PA. Top-ranked Oakland needs OT to defeat Boardman

Amber Bland and Ashlee Russo combined for 51 of the Spartans' 65 points.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MIDLAND, Pa. -- Using the 1-2 scoring punch of Ashlee Russo and Amber Bland, the Boardman High School girls basketball team put on a fine showing Saturday in the nightcap of the Midland Rite Aid Tip-Off Tournament.
Still, the Spartans could not pull out the victory, dropping a 66-65 overtime decision to Pittsburgh Oakland Catholic.
Oakland (6-1), last year's Pennsylvania state champion, is coached by Olympic Gold Medal-winner Suzie McConnell Serio.
Trailing 56-53 in the waning moments of regulation, Boardman junior guard Bridget Beachy cashed her only fielder of the night, a 3-pointer, to set up the extra session.
Thanks to a free throw from Russo and another from Jen Hlebovy, Boardman (6-1) took two leads early in the overtime, but Oakland Catholic battled back to take a 64-61 edge at 1:12.
Moments later, Bland scored with 34 seconds left and when Russo connected with 21 ticks, Boardman led 65-64.
Winning basket: The Eagles, however, then answered with 11 seconds remaining when game-MVP Meg Bulger scored the last of her 26 points to make the count 66-65.
Still, the Spartans had a chance to pull out the victory, but a shot fell just short as time ran out.
Bland connected for 29 points, while Russo added 22, including 10-for-14 from the foul line and a pair of 3-point baskets.
The Spartans clawed back from deficits the entire evening and trailed 40-30 with 4:45 showing in the third quarter. Down six to start the fourth quarter, Boardman took charge and soon found itself on a 9-2 run.
A coast-to-coast basket by Bland and another fielder from her at 5:06 put Boardman on top 47-46. Oakland Catholic regrouped to go up 54-49 but again the Spartans would not quit, battling back to pull within 54-53.
At 9.8 seconds, a pair of free throws from Brianne O'Rourke made the count 56-53, setting the stage for the heroics by Beachy.
The first quarter gave fans an indication of just how good a game this would be as there were four lead changes and three ties.
Bland made her presence known early by contributing 10 points.
A 7-for-10 shooting effort keyed the early Spartans charge, while seven turnovers prevented them from even more early success.