By RICHIE HALL
Reporter Sports Editor
You got to know when to hold ’em…
When your basketball team has the momentum in a tie game with 2.6 seconds left in regulation, holding for overtime is a wise choice.
The Noblesville girls team’s strategy might not make for a legendary country song, but it did have a happy ending – “The Ballad of the 8-0 Overtime” – with Noblesville beating Heritage Christian 57-49 Thursday night at The Mill.
Noblesville’s Maddie Knight set up the extra period, when she drained a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 49-49. That erased any momentum the Eagles had after their superstar Katlyn Gilbert had just cashed in on a three-point play to put her team up 49-46.
But Heritage would not score again. The Eagles looked like they were in position to win after getting fouled with five seconds left. But they missed both free throws, then the Millers rebounded and quickly called timeout. Once back on the court, Noblesville held the ball for the final 2.6 seconds to send the game to OT.
“We were fine with going to overtime,” said Millers coach Donna Buckley. “I know everybody in the crowd was like, ‘Go!’ But I’m like, ‘You know what? We’re going to go to overtime and we’re going to beat them.'”
Emily Kiser made the extra period’s only basket, with her jumper putting Noblesville up 51-49. After that, the Millers cruised, converting its opportunities from the free-throw line while not allowing the Eagles any points in the overtime. Both Kiser and Mallory Johnson were 3-for-4 from the line during the OT.
“We defended well, we rebounded and our kids did a nice job of just executing on the offensive end and making free throws and making plays,” said Buckley.
Noblesville got off to a sensational start, at one point leading 14-2 in the first quarter. Kiser scored six of those points, with Madison Whetro adding four and Johnson knocking down a 3-pointer.
Heritage Christian made its expected comeback, finally taking a 19-18 lead in the second period when Hadassah Harris hit a 3. Kiser got the Millers back in front (20-19) with a jumper, but the Eagles went on a 7-0 run after that, eventually finishing the first half up 26-22.
Heritage led by 33-27 early in the third quarter, but a quick 6-0 run by the Millers tied the game up. The Eagles then led 38-35 after a jumper by Arianna Wiggins, but Kiser erased that with a 3-pointer at the third-period buzzer.
Johnson put Noblesville up 43-40 by making her second 3-pointer of the game at the midway point of the fourth quarter. The contest continued to be back and forth for the remainder of the period, until the Millers took control in the extra period.
Kiser had another outstanding game, as usual. The senior scored 25 points, pulled 17 rebounds and blocked three shots. Johnson added 15 points. Knight had six rebounds and dished out four assists, while Whetro pulled five rebounds and also handed out four assists.
Noblesville is now 12-7, having won its last five games. The Millers will play their final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon, hosting Martinsville.
Noblesville 57,
Heritage Christian 49
(overtime)
Noblesville FG FT TP PF
Mallory Johnson 5-13 3-4 15 1
Olivia Morales 1-1 0-0 2 2
Maddie Knight 2-5 1-2 7 2
Madison Whetro 4-5 0-0 8 1
Abby Haley 0-1 0-0 0 4
Emily Kiser 10-22 4-6 25 2
Kailyn Ely 0-0 0-0 0 0
Anna Kiser 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 22-47 8-12 57 12
Score by Quarters
Heritage 8 18 12 11 0 – 49
Noblesville 16 6 16 11 8 – 57
Noblesville 3-point shooting (5-14) Johnson 2-8, Knight 2-4, E. Kiser 1-2.
Noblesville rebounds (41) E. Kiser 17, Knight 6, Whetro 5, Haley 4, Johnson 3, team 6.
Noblesville’s Maddie Knight fights for the ball during the Millers’ game with Heritage Christian on Thursday. Knight’s 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter sent the game to overtime, where Noblesville won 57-49. (Kent Graham)