Okaw Valley Halts Altamont's Run For Sectional Title

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Published on February 13 2018 7:06 am
Last Updated on February 13 2018 7:10 am
Written by Millie Lange

LOUISVILLE -- It was a game that started fast, remained close and was exciting until the end. Unfortunately for Altamont High School, Bethany Okaw Valley took control late and claimed a 69-59 victory in the Class 1A North Clay Girls Basketball Sectional Monday evening.

"The ball game didn't come down to one possession," said Altamont Coach Katie Lurkins. "There were things late in the game we could have done but I talked with the girls after the game and we just have to learn from this and get ready for next year."

Okaw Valley nailed the first shot of the game but Altamont tied right away and the races were on. The Indians moved into a 9-4 lead on free throws by Mary Guse. But Okaw Valley tied at 11-11. Free throws by Leah Mayhaus moved the Indians ahead again but Kate Jeffers tied on a basket at the end of the quarter 13-13.

Although neither team shot well in the opening quarter, Altamont hitting only 23.5 percent and Okaw Valley 42.8, the lid came off in the second period.

Guse nailed a three-pointer to start the second quarter but Paige Robinson knocked in a three-pointer and the score was tied again. Robinson then went to work, hitting the next basket and then putting in another three-point shot for a 21-16 lead. Coach Lurkins called a time out and settled her team down as they came back on a trifecta by Tinley Mette and a steal and basket by Guse tied the score at 21-21 with 5:20 before halftime.

The lead see-sawed back and forth with neither team losing much ground. Robinson put in a basket with 37 ticks on the clock for a 35-30 lead. But Altamont didn't back down and Brooke Runge hit a basket and Mette scored to pull Altamont within 35-34 at halftime. The Indians finished with 64.2 percent in the quarter while the Timberwolves hit 61.5 percent.

Both teams slowed down from the field in the third quarter and Okaw Valley finished the period on a three-pointer by Paige Robinson that broke a tie for a 46-43 lead.

But then came the fateful quarter where Okaw Valley, despite being in heavy foul trouble as Jeffers had four and Robinson and Hope Ruppert with three each, went on a tear that Altamont couldn't stop. Robinson scored seven points in the quarter while Ruppert, who hadn't attempted a shot in the first three quarters, hit for six points. The Timberwolves didn't miss much from the free throw line, connecting on nine of 12 and put the game on ice.

There was no stopping Okaw Valley's Robinson, a 5-foot-10 senior, who finished with 36 points. The talented senior hit 14 of 23 from the field and was two of four from the free throw line. She was hot from three-point range connecting on six of 10. Natalie Jeffers chipped in with 12 and Bella Benning added 10. The Timberwolves used only six players in the game.

Altamont got double figure performances from Guse with 18 and Mette with 17. The Indians will be saying goodbye to seniors Shelbi Stone, Jacie Hosick and Ashley Goeckner. Altamont ends the season with an outstanding 24-6 record.

Okaw Valley (27-5) advances to the championship game Thursday against Hume Shiloh. Shiloh downed Oblong 57-46 in the second game.

Class 1A North Clay Sectional

OKAW VALLEY (69)

Robinson 14-23 2-4 36, Jeffers 4-8 4-6 12, Vogel 2-11 1-2 5, Ruppert 3-3 0-0 6, Benning 2-10 4-5 10, Hill 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS 25-56 FG (44.6) 11-17 FT 64.7)

ALTAMONT (59)

Stone 4-11 0-0 8, Mette 7-14 2-3 17, Goeckner 1-4 0-0 3, Guse 6-17 3-4 18, Mayhaus 3-8 2-2 8, Runge 1-2 1-2 3, Hardiek 0-0 0-0 0, Schultz 1-1 0-1 2, Hosick 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS 23-57 FG (40.3) 8-12 FT (66.6)

Okaw Valley            13    22    11    23    --    69

Altamont                  13    21     9    16    --    59

3-point FG -- Okaw Valley 8-20 (Robinson 6, Benning 2), Altamont 5-12 (Guse 3, Goeckner 1, Mette 1). Rebounds -- Okaw Valley 24 (Robinson 12), Altamont 35 (Mayhaus 13).