Mosely, Dykes spark Liberty's OT victory

Champion's Heather Beachy hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime.
By DOUG CHAPIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CHAMPION -- Denika Mosely made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining in overtime and Michelle Dykes sank two clinching free throws after coming up with a steal, as Liberty stayed unbeaten in the Trumbull Athletic Conference with a 53-49 overtime win Monday at Champion.
Dykes, a 5-foot-7 senior, led Liberty (6-1, 3-0 TAC) in scoring with 19 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Her biggest takeaway came with nine seconds left when she stepped in front of a Champion player in the key and intercepted a pass. Dykes was tied up, but the possession arrow was pointing Liberty's way and two seconds later Dykes sank the two free throws to ice the victory.
"Michelle Dykes is our go-to player," Liberty coach John Hritz said. "I think she can play big-time basketball and she hasn't yet reached her potential.
"Mosely came off the bench and gave us a big lift. We know she can shoot the 3s, so with Champion staying in zone we thought we'd see if she could make a couple from the corner."
Mosely scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds. Kotchy Neskovich added seven points and six rebounds, and Melissa Dykes had seven steals and three assists.
Ghindia leads Champion
The Golden Flashes (5-2, 1-2) were led by post player Elizabeth Ghindia who scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Heather Beachy added 10 points, including a 3-pointer just before the buzzer at the end of regulation to knot the game at 45-45. Erika Stevens added six points and seven assists and her jumper with 1:27 left in overtime put Champion ahead 49-47. Ashley Haas contributed eight points and five rebounds and Jenna Hedrick grabbed six rebounds.
"Our two losses are both at home [Hubbard and Liberty] and in both games we led most of the way," Champion coach Jeff Thompson said. "We have to learn how to finish games. Our offense goes through Ghindia and when she is not in there we have a tendency to get nervous. We have got to get past that."
The Flashes extended a 14-10 first-quarter lead to 18-10, but then saw Liberty claw back to a 22-21 halftime lead. Champion used an 18-10 third-quarter to hold a 39-32 lead heading into the final quarter. Mosely's 3-pointer with 5:33 remaining in regulation brought Liberty within 39-36, then neither team could score until Mosely tallied a 2-pointer at the 2:55 mark.
Beachy ties game
S'mari Dawson's put-back put the Leopards ahead 40-39 and her two free throws at the 1:16 mark gave Liberty a 44-40 lead. Ahead 44-42, Michelle Dykes had a chance to ice the game at the line with eight seconds remaining. She made the first charity toss, but missed the second and Haas rebounded. She got the ball to Stevens who dribbled down the side and found Beachy in the right corner for the game-tying 3-pointer.
In a game with so many ups and downs, both coaches praised their players for shrugging off adversity.
"Our kids didn't quit and I know they won't quit, they are a great bunch of kids," Thompson said. "We just have to play smarter at the end of games."
"I have to take my hat off to our kids, they never quit," Hritz said. "To beat Champion on their floor is a big win. With the conference so balanced, we'll take a win any way we can get one."