Lady Hornets drop nail biter to Sayre

By: Ed Weaver  /  February 1, 2015

The Wellsboro Varsity Girls Basketball team came up short in the final seconds of their game Saturday afternoon against the Sayre Redskins.

The game was back-and-forth all afternoon. Wellsboro won the opening tip an Junior Sarah Ingerick put the Lady Hornets up 2-0 early, then went up 4-0 on a layup from Junior Alexa Singer. Sayre's outside shooting would give them an 13-8 lead at one point before Wellsboro fought back late to go up 19-15 as the second quarter started.

Sayre quickly tied it up at 19-19 as the second quarter started, but jump shots from Ingerick and Sophomore Jessica Grab kept the Lady Hornets in the game as it was tied 25-25 at the half.

Both teams struggled to score coming out of the half, but Sayre eventually broke the tie midway through the quarter. Junior Jada Jackson would put Wellsboro back on top 29-27 on two hard fought layups, but Sayre would tie it up at 29-29 moments later. Sayre would hit another long-range jumper to put them up 32-31 and Ingerick would put Wellsboro back up one on a layup, but Sayre would hit three of four foul shots towards the end of the quarter to take a 36-33 lead into the final frame.

Sayre pushed their lead to five points as the fourth quarter started, but Wellsboro wouldn't get further ahead. Trailing 40-37 with 2:42 remaining, Jackson hit a turn-around jumper after grabbing a loose ball to trail 40-39 and Ingerick would put the Hornets up 41-40 after she was fouled on a layup attempt.

Sayre went back up by one the next time down the court and later converted on two foul shots to take another three point lead. As the clock wound down, Ingerick was fouled with 22 seconds remaining after the Hornet defense forced a turnover. She would make both foul shots to trail 44-43.

Sayre's Chloe Tracy was fouled on the Redskins' next possession and would hit one of two foul shots to lead 45-43. After grabbing the rebound from the missed foul shot, Ingerick pushed the ball up the court and was intentionally fouled on her way to the basket with eight seconds remaining. Ingerick hit one shot to bring the score to 45-44, setting up a final inbound play for a chance for the win.

Wellsboro's inbound play was unsuccessful as they turned the ball back over to Sayre who ran down the final seconds off the clock for the 45-44 win.

Ingerick finished with a game-high 21 points and Jackson finished with 13 and 10 rebounds. Singer and Senior Peyton Wilson scored four points each, Grab ended the afternoon with two points.

Wellsboro won the JV game 49-18 behind Freshman Lizzie Poirier's 10 points.

With the loss, the Lady Hornets fall to 9-11 (3-5 NTL Division 1). The team will be back in action on Tuesday, February 3 as they travel to Towanda.