Spartans fall in double overtime at Glacier’s Edge
Knight’s 29 points not enough in 65-59 loss
By Jeremy Shapiro
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Emporia girls erased a nine point fourth quarter lead in a little over a minute, sent the game into two overtimes, but never led for a single second during the fifth place game of the Glacier’s Edge Tournament.
Wichita Northwest outlasted the Spartans 65-59 in two overtimes Saturday to earn the consolation championship. EHS went 1-2 to finish sixth in the tournament. They are now 4-9 on the season.
Despite the close call Saturday, EHS coach Bill Nienstedt said his team played better earlier in the tournament.
“Two steps forward, one step back,” he said. “I think we played really well against Hutchinson. Even in losing I think that may have been our best performance. Today we were soft and didn’t play well together. We weren’t good at making the extra pass and we didn’t adjust to the defensive change by them at all.”
EHS had opportunities to win the game both at the end of regulation and in the final seconds of regulation.
Whitney Wilhite, who scored a career high 14 points and recorded six rebounds, made a game tying shot after driving to the goal with 21.5 seconds left. She was fouled on the play by Tre Tre Nolen, which was her fifth foul.
Northwest (6-6) used its final timeout before Wilhite’s free throw. She had hit her previous seven from the line, but this one was no good. Northwest’s Cassidy Harbert dribbled down the clock and then turned the ball over, sending the game into the first overtime tied at 47.
For the complete story, pick up the Monday Emporia Gazette.