South Pointe girls knock off Lancaster but Bruins win region

The South Pointe Stallions erased a 15-point deficit in the last four minutes of regulation, and then claimed a 71-67 overtime win over the Lancaster Bruins in a Region 3-3A girls’ basketball battle at South Pointe Friday night.

The loss was the first in the region for the Bruins. Both teams finished with 9-1 region marks, but Lancaster, which topped South Pointe earlier in the week, got the top seed because of margin of victory.

“This team never quit tonight, and it was big win for us,” said South Pointe head coach Stephanie Butler. “This was a great confidence builder for us as we head to the playoffs next week.”

The teams played even in the first half, and Lancaster took a 30-24 lead to the dressing room at intermission.

The Bruins went on a 13-0 run midway through the third period to take a 48-33 lead. Keyotta Garris led the surge with 10 of her game-high 28 points. When it was over, 33 seconds remained in the quarter.

The two teams battled on even terms for the next four and one-half minutes. That left Lancaster with a 56-41 lead with 3:39 left in the game.

It was then that the Stallions mounted a comeback and tied the count at 61-61 at the end of regulation.

Izzy Clark gave South Pointe a 63-61 lead in overtime with a layup. After Keiana Howze made a free throw for Lancaster, Clark made a pair of charity tosses for a 65-62 lead.

Howze made another free throw for Lancaster, but Scarlett Gilmore answered for South Pointe with a layup, and the Stallions were in front 67-63 with 1:25 to play in overtime.

Gilmore added another free throw, but Garris answered with a layup, and South Pointe was in front 68-65 with 20 seconds to play.

Clark made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left for a 70-65 Stallions’ advantage. After Summer Clinton nailed a 14-footer to cut it to 70-67, T’Keia Williams made a free throw with seven ticks left to seal the win.

TURNING POINT

Trailing 56-41 with 3:39 remaining in the game, the Stallions rallied behind T’Keia Williams and Clark to come back and tie the contest at 61 at the end of regulation.

Clark got the rally started with a layup. Williams scored the next eight points for the Stallions to offset a layup by Malia Rivers, and the Lancaster lead was down to 58-51 with 1:11 to play.

Clark made a layup, and Williams made a free throw and a short jumper in the lane, while Garris added a pair of free throws for Lancaster. That left the Bruins with a 60-56 lead with 17 seconds left.

Clark converted a three-point play, but Amirah Steward cashed in a free throw for a 61-59 Bruin lead with nine seconds left.

Williams scored on layup with two seconds remaining to tie the game and send it into overtime.

“I cannot say enough about the performance those two put on tonight,” said Butler. “Williams took over the game late in the fourth quarter, and Clark was clutch on the free throw line in overtime.”

CRITICAL

The Stallions used 10 players during the game because of foul trouble, and they were all instrumental in the victory.

“This was a team win,” said Butler. “We had contributions from everyone we put in the game. Some scored points, while others had big defensive plays, key rebounds, and a steady performance on offense.”

STAR CONTRIBUTIONS

T’Keia Williams and Clark both finished with 25 points for the game.

Clark carried the team in the first three quarters, getting 14 of her points before the late rally. She scored six in the overtime session.

Williams led the rally in the fourth period, scoring 14 of her points during that stretch. It was her free throw with seven seconds left in overtime that sealed the win.

ON DECK

Lancaster and South Pointe will host first-round playoff games on Monday night. The opponents have not been determined.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 9:57 AM with the headline "South Pointe girls knock off Lancaster but Bruins win region."