In 3-OT thriller, FMS girls survive at Hardin Valley
HARDIN VALLEY -— Farragut Middle School’s girls basketball team had to overcome some early offensive woes and work a little overtime to capture a Knox County Middle Conference Class AAA West Division game late last week.
The extra work earned the Lady Admirals a 39-34 triple-overtime victory over rival Hardin Valley Thursday, Nov. 9, before a packed and spirited house at Hardin Valley Middle School.
It was an uphill climb for Farragut, which managed just two points in the opening quarter and eight in the first half. The Lady Admirals saw their offensive troubles continue as they scored just three points in the third frame and faced a 21-11 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
But they held the Lady Hawks off the scoreboard and used a 10-0 run over the final six minutes to knot the game, 21-21, and send the game to overtime. Farragut’s Livi Slagle scored the final seven points of regulation and knocked down a pair of late 3-point shots. Her last one tied the game with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining in regulation.
Slagle, who scored 12 of her team-high 16 points after halftime, provided the bulk of the Lady Ads’ offense in the first extra stanza, as she converted three foul shots and gave FMS a 26-21 lead with a free throw with 53.1 seconds left.
But the Lady Hawks roared back, as Hardin Valley’s Sarah Galloway scored the final five points of the period and to tie the contest 26-26 with a free throw with 0.2 seconds left.
In the second overtime, the Lady Hawks seized the early upper hand as Emma Rhoden buried a pair of shots to give HVMS a 30-26 advantage with just over two minutes to play.
But the FMS girls would come back a re-tie the game. Farragut’s Elin Rotan nailed a 3-pointer with 12.1 seconds remaining to make the score 30-30. On to a third extra session.
In the final three minutes, it was Livi, Jayna Carbaugh and McKenna Hartley who provided the points that would propel the Lady Admirals to victory. Livi had four points down the stretch, including two free throws with 19.1 seconds to go to give Farragut a 38-34 lead. Jayna made three foul shots and scored the final point of the contest. McKenna, who scored nine of her 11 points after halftime, had a bucket.
“I need a nap after watching this game,” FMS head coach Devan McIntyre said. “But I found out what we were made of. We’re a young team and I’m just so proud of the girls.”
Hardin Valley’s Alaina Lineberry had 19 points to lead all scorers. Sarah added eight.
