India Timpton's steal gives unbeaten Myers Park edge, 53-49
Feb 02, 2013 (Menafn - The Charlotte Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Myers Park girls' basketball team overcame foul trouble, a nine-point second-half deficit and a loud crowd on the road to beat Ardrey Kell 53-49 in overtime and remain undefeated.
The win gave the Mustangs, nationally ranked at No. 15 by USA Today, a two-game lead in the Southwestern 4A Conference. But it didn't come easy.
"We did not play well the first three quarters," said Myers Park coach Barbara Nelson. "They dominated the game for the first three quarters, and we wilted to their persistence and their determination."
Myers Park (20-0, 10-0) led 26-22 at halftime and started the third quarter with four unanswered points to it 30-22. From there, Ardrey Kell (18-2, 8-2) went on a 19-2 run to finish the quarter. The Knights led 41-32 going into the final period.
Myers Park's India Timpton and Rydeiah Rogers both committed their fourth fouls in the third quarter.
Ardrey Kell coach Jennifer McVicker said the team's game plan was to pressure the ball handler and get the Mustangs in foul trouble.
Myers Park slowly cut into the Ardrey Kell lead in the fourth quarter. Rogers hit two free throws to tie the game at 41 late in the period.
When Myers Park got the ball back with less than two minutes left, the Mustangs held the ball, refusing to shoot until Rogers was fouled with 48 seconds left in regulation.
"We had foul trouble," Nelson said. "To shorten the game was in our best interest."
Rogers, who scored a team-high 13 points, made both of her free throws to give Myers Park a 43-41 lead.
On Ardrey Kell's next possession, Marshae Bradbury made a layup with 20 seconds left to tie the game and force overtime. They were the only points the Knights scored all quarter.
Bradbury led the team with 13 points.
"Marshae the last three games has just stepped it up," McVicker said. "She has been in situations like these before."
The teams traded baskets to start the four-minute overtime period. Ardrey Kell had possession trailing 49-47 with less than a minute left when Myers Park's Timpton stole the ball. Teammate Aliyah Mazyck was fouled nine seconds later and made both of her free throws to give the Mustangs a 51-47 lead with 41.8 seconds left.
Ardrey Kell's Raven Dean scored on the Knights' next possession, but free throws by Myers Park's Morgan Uptegraff with 10 seconds left sealed the game.
It was a disappointing loss for the Knights, but McVicker was proud of the way her team competed against a good team.
"We can play with any team," she said. "We're tough and if we follow the game plan and work hard and execute, we can do great things."
The game was also a learning experience for the Mustangs, who have won all but six of their games by at least 10 points.
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