By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Girls Basketball faced a back-and-forth battle against the Wildcats all night, then Pendleton County forced overtime and made one more big push to commandeer a 62-54 win.
“It was just like the game we had up at the tip-off tournament. There’s a lot of emotions in the last little bit of that game and the same thing here all the way into overtime. I thought we were down and out several times, but we kind of held our own and found ways to make things happen. We got it into overtime and Jameigh [Miller] made some nice plays. It was a really good game for the fans,” Pendleton County coach Travis Heavner stated.
The Yellow Jackets took a four point lead with just under four minutes remaining in regulation as Kiersten Rinker made a jumper.
Moorefield had led by as many as six points late in the third period, but the Wildcats rallied to take the lead early in the fourth period.
Moorefield fought back to take the lead on buckets from Brenna See, Kerigan Bergdall and Rinker for the 42-38 edge.
Pendleton County responded on the free throw line as Jameigh Miller notched one point and Susan Vincell collected the carom and drew a foul leading to two more on the charity stripe within two seconds cutting the deficit to 42-41 at 4:35.
Bergdall was fouled crashing to the floor, then timeout was called.
The Yellow Jackets moved the ball around the perimeter with See finding a path in the paint drawing a foul in the process and garnered both free throws for a 44-41 lead at 4:07.
The Wildcats hit the rim and fumbled the ball out.
Bergdall was fouled and crashed to the floor again and this time slid towards the student section where some gasped at the play.
Miller stole the ball and crashed into the paint netting the basket with no call made.
The Moorefield bench was furious and a technical was called with the Lexy Tingler adding a game-tying free throw.
Pendleton County took a 47-44 edge on a 3-pointer from Tia Heavner with 3:16 left in the fourth period.
Moorefield hit the rim and the Wildcats came up empty at the line moments later.
The Yellow Jackets lost the ball, but Pendleton County failed to connect as Elizabeth Williams hauled in the rebound.
Bergdall scored on a layup as Moorefield closed the gap 47-46 at 2:50.
A miss and jump ball was prior to an offensive foul for a shove by the Wildcats.
Rinker gave the Yellow Jackets a 48-47 lead with free throws at 2:11.
Coming out of a timeout, Pendleton County regained the lead at the line with shots by Tingler at 1:54.
The Yellow Jackets ensuing pass went awry.
A huge inbound throw was made, then Williams swatted the ball out before an offensive foul on the Wildcats.
Bergdall nailed a jumper to put Moorefield back on top 50-49 with 1:05 to go in regulation.
Moorefield’s Jocelyn Wagner forced a turnover out, then Bergdall tripped and fumbled the ball away with 25 seconds left.
Wagner and Parvatee Snyder teamed up for a blocked shot.
Pendleton County’s Susan Vincell drew a foul and made a game-tying free throw with 15 seconds to spare, 50-all.
A timeout was called just as a shot was launched with six seconds left.
The ensuing shot went off the rim and a Wildcats defender reached over top to knock the ball away as time expired.
The Wildcats ferociously pounced into overtime and slashed ahead on a 9-nil run for a 59-50 advantage which spanned nearly three minutes.
Miller started the run with two free throws after the Yellow Jackets hit the rim twice.
Miller snatched a defensive rebound before a walk.
Miller swiped the ball and recorded a breakaway layup at 2:45, 54-50.
Moorefield came up empty at the line, then Williams collected a defensive board.
Tingler stole the ball and dished to Miller for a perimeter basket at 1:47, 57-50.
Miller hauled in a defensive carom and sent Bergdall to the floor with a flying elbow.
Tingler hit a jumper to put Pendleton County up 59-50 with 1:10 remaining in overtime.
Moorefield forced a turnover as Lily Eye swatted a pass and the ricochet was collected by Anniston Kite, but the ensuing shot was off the mark and Vincell grabbed the rebound for the Wildcats.
Vincell was fouled and added one free throw with 47 seconds to go.
Snyder snatched the rebound, but fell in the process resulting in a turnover.
Eye swiped the ball back and garnered a layup with 30 seconds to spare as the Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 60-54.
Miller added two free throws and Vincell hauled in a defensive carom to seal Pendleton County’s 62-54 overtime win.
Pendleton County held a 15-12 lead after the first frame, despite six lead changes.
Moorefield regained the lead early in the second period on a 3-pointer by Bergdall, then the Wildcats rallied to tie midway through the frame.
Rinker put the Yellow Jackets back in front with another perimeter shot with two minutes and change left in the half.
The Wildcats clawed back for a 25-22 halftime lead.
Moorefield rallied for a 36-33 edge entering the fourth period due in part to a pair of perimeter buckets by Rinker.
“We lost our two seniors to injury, but our young girls have stepped it up. We need to learn how to finish games with the lead, but I am proud of our effort. It was a very physical game. Give credit to Pendleton County for the way they battled back,” Moorefield coach Jared Wratchford noted.
Vincell led the Wildcats with 18 points, followed by Miller with 16 points and Tingler added 10 points.
The Yellow Jackets were guided by Bergdall with 18 points, followed by Rinker with 13 points and Williams contributed 9 markers.
In JV action, Hampshire defeated Moorefield 50-30.
Rylee Koontz netted a game-high 15 points for the Trojans, while the Yellow Jackets were paced by Alli Jackson with 7 points.
