Third-ranked S.F. Washington edges Brookings in overtime

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BROOKINGS – No. 3 Sioux Falls Washington outscored Brookings 13-4 in overtime to post a 63-54 nonconference girls’ basketball win Saturday afternoon at Bob Jostad Gymnasium.

The Bobcats led for much of the game – 13-11 after 8 minutes, 24-20 at halftime and 37-33 through three.

The Warriors scored the first six points in the fourth frame as Jada Cunningham turned a steal into a layup, and Kelsie Kearney hit a pair of free throws before adding a bucket to put the visitors on top 39-37 with 6:20 showing on the clock.

Baylee Tetzlaff answered with a basket and Ava Burns then hit a 3-pointer to put Brookings ahead 42-39 with 5 minutes to go.

It was a back-and-forth affair from there.

Later, Brookings’ Carolyn Hieb knocked down a trey to tie the score at 48-all with 1:27 remaining. Her free throws gave the Bobcats a two-point cushion with 32 seconds to play.

However, Washington got a pair of foul shots from Taylor VanderVelde with 20 seconds left and then came up with a defensive stop to force OT.

Michaela Jewett put the Bobcats on the board first in the extra session; however, Maham Shah and Cunningham countered with consecutive buckets. Kearney added a charity toss to make it 55-52 with 2:25 to go.

Tetzlaff buried a pair of foul shots on the other end, but those were the Bobcats’ final points.

Shah had a bucket with 2:02 left and VanderVelde went 2-for-2 at the line with 1:40 remaining, making it 59-54.

Washington went 4-of-6 from the line down the stretch to seal the deal.

“It was a busy week for our kids – counting last Saturday, we played four games in a short period of time, plus it was test week,” said BHS coach Lynn Frederick. “So I’m really proud of our kids. I think we just had maybe 1 1/2 inefficient quarters throughout the week, the four games, so I’m really proud of our kids. They work hard; they play hard; they’re very competitive. Fundamentally, we did a lot of positive things this week.

“Today, we gave ourselves a chance to win the ball game – we had the last possession. … In overtime, it seemed like we just ran out of gas both mentally and physically. And that’s probably the remnants of the entire week right there, but I’m proud of our kids. We’re going to have a good basketball team. (The Warriors are) 7-2, and so we’ve played two of the best teams here recently and we’ve been in the game and played with them, so it should be a confidence builder for our kids.”

VanderVelde (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Shah (13 points, 10 rebounds) both posted a double-double for Washington.

Kearney chipped in with 12 points and Rymerson, a reserve, added 10.

Cunningham filled up the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

For the ‘Cats, Tetzlaff totaled 18 points and six boards.

Jewett finished with 16 points, eight boards, six blocks and a pair of assists.

Brookings (3-5) plays at Aberdeen Central on Tuesday at 7 p.m.