Clippers rally to extend streak to 20, capture another crown

January 31, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

LISBON

With her school’s dream of its first unbeaten season weighing heavy on her shoulders, Columbiana junior Alexis Cross connected from long range at the buzzer to force overtime.

Then in the second bonus session, with fellow starters Kayla Muslovski and Kennedy Fullum on the bench with five fouls, Cross and point guard Mariah Rovnak took charge as Columbiana outscored Lisbon 8-7 for Monday’s 98-97 victory that earned the Clippers a third straight league crown and keeps their unbeaten streak alive.

Despite having missed her first four 3-point shots and then six free throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone, Cross said she felt confident, probably because she scored 14 other points in that quarter before her big shot hit home.

“I’m glad my coach had faith in me, I’ve been shooting pretty well this season so I just let it go,” said Cross, who was sure it was good when she released. “I held my follow-through and luckily it went in.”

Cross tied the game at 86-86 and capped a Clippers’ 13-4 run in the final 68 seconds. She finished with 37 points.

“Probably the best high school girls basketball game that I’ve seen or been a part of,” Lisbon coach Jamie Entrikin said. “It’s just not that easy when you come out on the wrong side of it.

“Give Columbiana credit — they attack the basketball,” Entrikin said. “Our kids played hard — they have hearts of champions. They never quit.”

With 29.7 seconds remaining in regulation, Lisbon’s Mackenzie Mason fouled out.

Each team scored four points in the first extra session. Six seconds into the second one, Fullum fouled out, After one more basket, Muslovski took a seat, finishing with 28 points.

Cross scored for a 94-90 lead, but Lisbon’s Karlee Pezzano tied the game with two baskets.

After Rovnak hit a free throw, Alexa Bell scored to give the Blue Devils their final lead. Cross tied the game with a free throw, then Rovnak drove to the basket and put the Clippers ahead 98-96 with 15 seconds to go.

“Grace [Hamnmond] stepped up her game,” said Rovnak of the wild finish. She also credited Marissa McDonough and Brittany Mook. “They really played their hearts out.”

After Izzy Perez made one of Lisbon’s final two free throws, the Devils never regained possession.

“I’m proud of our team, I’m really proud of their team,” Columbiana coach Ron Moschella said. “Our kids used a lot of energy in the second half to come back.”

Three weeks ago, the Clippers (20-0, 7-0 Inter-Tri County League White Tier) jumped out to a big lead then hung on to win 68-62. This time, the Blue Devils (14-3, 4-3) were in charge until late in the final quarter. After turning the ball over on their first three possessions, the Blue Devils outscored the Clippers 27-19 in the first quarter, with Pezzano scoring 15 of her 35 points.

The lead grew to 11 at halftime (48-37). Then the Clippers surged, getting the lead down to four (55-51). Lisbon’s Hailee Carpenter connected for a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for a 62-53 lead.

Rovnak scored 16 points and Fullum 14.

“It was a great game, “Moschella said. “Our press wasn’t as effective as the first time. We got beat up on the boards by [Mason]. That really hurt us.”

Pezzano has 1,110 points and is 27 points behind Erica Sims’ career record.

“I told her I would help her get a scholarship so she gets outta here,” Moschella said of Pezzano.

Mason scored 22 points and Bell 11.