By: Nathan Bloechl ([email protected])
Humboldt, Iowa – A fleet look at Quik Stats Iowa before yesterday’s Humboldt (10-4) 72-69 victory over Algona (13-3) showed Junior Sydney Lane had attempted zero threes so far in the 2016-17.
A quick look after, shows a minuscule, inconsequential “one” under attempts and makes. A cool 100%.
But, those who had the privilege to attend yesterday’s slobber knocker know that three point make was anything but inconsequential.
Lane, an interior threat standing at 6’0″ and in all probability the furthest thing from Steph Curry, drilled a three pointer with Humboldt down four, while also getting fouled in the process, triggering a cold-blooded assassin-like moment.
The Humboldt faithful roared into frenzy as with just seconds remaining Lane trotted to the line with an ear-to-ear-grin, as even she was awestruck by the moment.
As fate would have it, Lane, a 61.3% foul-shooter, nailed the free throw to send the game to overtime at 55-55.
If you’d ask Humboldt Head Coach Rodd Mooney, the Wildcats should not have even needed to go overtime against a very young, game Algona team.
The Wildcats held leads of eight and six in the fourth quarter before Algona took its four point lead down the stretch.
Avery Terwilliger and Halie George, who both played absurd minutes, led the overtime attack after Lane and Senior Beth Duffield fouled out early in overtime.
Because of Lane’s herculean shot, Terwilliger was able to eclipse a milestone no other Wildcat girls basketball player has accomplished.
Terwilliger, who finished with 25 points, including an audacious 20-of-21 from the free throw line, is now the one and only member of the 1,000 point club in Humboldt girls basketball history.
“Feels good, I mean I was hoping to get it” said an ecstatic Terwilliger post-game.
“It was my goal this year, [I honestly] didn’t think I’d get it going to the line twenty-one times, but it feels good” Terwilliger laughed.
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to knot the game up at 72 and force a third overtime, but a turnover allowed the Wildcats to run the clock out and exact vengeance after an early season two point road loss to Algona.
Halie George was sublime once again on the glass notching a game-high 16 rebounds to go along with 21 points, for her first double-double of the season.
Abby Zaugg did the dirty-work for the Wildcats chipping in with six points and nine rebounds in extended minutes as well.
It’s a short turnaround for the Cats who travel to Clear Lake to take on the conference leading Lions this evening, but it is safe to say the Wildcats have “big MO” on their side.
The two teams met last week and it was Clear Lake getting the upper hand 54-30.
Tonight’s game can be heard on the Bolt, with pre-game coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m.