FREMONT – New London didn’t hold a lead until overtime.
Valery Henry, however, dropped in each of eight free throws in overtime as New London topped Woodmore 40-34 in a Division VI district semifinal at Fremont Ross.
Two seed New London plays two seed Ottawa Hills for a district crown at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Napoleon.
Henry finished with a game-high 17 points against Woodmore.
The game was tied 29-29 after regulation, before New London scored 11 points from the free throw line. It led 30-29 for the first time after a Gracie Thomas free throw and maintained an advantage from there.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Thomas said. “We work on the moments, and we stay poised. It’s such an adrenaline rush to play in this environment.”
New London failed to register a point until Thomas scored inside with 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first quarter. Woodmore (17-7) led 9-6 after one quarter and 17-15 at the half.
“Heart,” New London coach Eric Mitchell said. “Plain and simple. Those eight girls, the heart they play with. They never stop. They play as one. They weren’t ready to go home. (Woodmore was) more physical for three quarters.
“It was a slugfest. They don’t quit. They know what’s on the line. Five seniors played 33 minutes.”
The third quarter was sluggish for New London as well, as Thomas scored her team’s first points of the second half for a 22-18 deficit with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter. Thomas’ bucket was New London’s only made 3-pointer in the game.
“We have to play our pace,” Thomas said. “Trust our teammates. We did in the fourth quarter. We just have to push through everything. We’re hard workers, and we push to the max.”
Raeann Mitchell received a technical after an elbow. She sat briefly, before splitting two free throws to tie the game 15-15 in the second quarter.
“Rae plays with emotion,” Mitchell said. “I love it about her. You’ll never question her effort. You have to have poise in the noise. She stepped back out with control of her emotions.”
Kelsey Kaylor scored 13 points for Woodmore, and Camille Strong added 11.
mhorn@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: New London girls grab lead in OT and hold on for victory vs. Woodmore
Reporting by Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
