WARREN Piacquadio's basket gives JFK win in overtime

Warren Harding's desperation shot fell short in a two-point loss.
By PAUL TRGOVAC
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN -- Katie Piacquadio made a 17-foot shot with 1.4 seconds remaining in overtime Thursday to give visiting Warren John F. Kennedy High a 56-54 victory over Warren Harding.
The Eagles (8-6) had two shots at the winning basket before Piacquadio picked up a rebound, turned and scored from the right side.
After the Raiders called timeout, they attempted a 3-point shot that fell short at the horn.
"We tried to get the ball to our guards for the final play," JFK coach Denise Smith said. "We did get a couple of good looks at the hoop and were able to hit the game-winner."
Big lead early
JFK led almost the entire game, using a 10-0 run to open their largest lead, 14-4. The Raiders, who had leads of 2-0 and 4-3, closed to within 16-13 at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles led 25-21 at halftime and were able to increase their advantage to 37-29 entering the final quarter.
"Our goal was to slow down the pace of the game and to control [Desirae] Jenkins. We did that for the first three quarters," Smith said. Jenkins fouled out, scoring 10 points.
Warren Harding (10-6), plagued by foul trouble, was able to battle back to tie the score on a free throw by Antoinette Carmichael with 1:39 to play in regulation. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
In overtime, the Eagles took a four-point lead on baskets by Renee Black and Alyssa Chaves before Carmichael hit a 3-pointer to cut JFK's lead to 50-49.
After JFK moved back to a three-point lead at 54-51, Carmichael tied the score again with a 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining, setting up the Eagles' winning possession.
Extreme foul trouble
Warren Harding, which had four starters foul out, were called for 27 fouls to 16 for the Eagles.
Carmichael came off the bench to pace the Raiders with 13 points, all in the fourth quarter and overtime. Janine McDonald added 12 points.
For JFK, Chaves had 24 points and she was 13-of-18 at the free throw line. Piacquadio finished with 14 points.
"This was a turning point in our season. We were playing a Division I opponent in a tough place to play, and even when it got crazy in the fourth quarter we still came back," Smith said. "This is the type of game which will get us ready for the tournament."
In addition to foul trouble, Warren Harding also had a tough night shooting (20-of-66).
"That [fouls] really hurt us. It took us right out of our game," Harding coach David Jenkins said. "We allowed them to get the best of us in the beginning."
The Raiders held a 41-38 edge in rebounds. Aarika Knepp had nine boards to pace the Eagles, while LaBrea Crawford had eight for Warren Harding.