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Crestview holds strong in victory
NEW WATERFORD
The Crestview High girls basketball team had a lead throughout its game against South Range on Thursday. In fact, the Rebels never trailed.
So coach Rick Gates was able to relax for much of the contest, right?
“Not at all,” he said. “It was definitely not comfortable. We knew it was going to be tight the whole way. Even though we had our leads, they fought right back and battled right with us.”
The Rebels led by as many as eight in the first quarter and closed out a 47-40 win on their home court.
But with three minutes, 48 seconds left it was tied.
South Range’s Kristen Robinson hit a jump-shot just steps inside the 3-point line making it 36-all.
But Crestview answered on its next possession when Annie Hardenbrook went 1-for-2 from the foul line. The Rebels extended their lead when Morgan Newbauer ripped the ball from an opponent player and threw it to an open Ashley Harrison who made an easy lay up for a 39-36 score.
“It came down to possessions,” said South Range coach Wayne Johnson. “We had some turnovers and we didn’t take care of the ball. They got some good looks. And, they made their foul shots.”
The Rebels were 15-for-27 from the free-throw line, while the Raiders went 4-for-6. In the fourth quarter, Crestview was 6-for-8.
“We just had to keep it together and play calm and stick with it,” said Crestview point guard Ashley Harrison.
Harrison, who scored a game-high 12 points, barely stands 5-feet tall but she plays much larger than her tiny frame. Thanks to her ball handling and quick drives to the hoop, she was able to draw contact and get to the foul line.
“She’s is such a tough guard — physically and mentally,” Gates said. “She is unselfish and she has that great court toughness that coaches just love.”
The junior fell to the floor after bounding into South Range defenders numerous times. Still, it never stopped her from getting right back up and doing the same thing on another drive.
“I’m just positive,” she said. “I go at it.”
Kelsey Maynard brought the Raiders back to within two with jumper in the key, making it 42-40 with 1:21 remaining. Then, the Rebels scored the final five points.
“We had a couple of key passes and we did a good job of distributing the ball to open people,” Gates said. “We found the right people at the right time, too.”
These two teams faced each other earlier in the season and South Range won by just two on its home court.
“It’s a big win,” Harrison said. “They were pretty much the same tough team as last time. We were just ready for them.”
Gerie Sickle and Marissa Leon finished with 10 and nine points, respectively, for Crestview (13-5, 8-5 ITCL). Taylor Chamberlain came off the bench and grabbed eight of the Rebels’ 31 rebounds. Alexis Naples led South Range (9-7, 8-4 ITCL) with 11 points and Maynard finished with eight.