Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 72F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
WAVERLY, Ohio - When James Naismith invented basketball, Saturday's game at the Waverly Downtown Arena might have been what he had in mind.
McKayla Binkley scored on a floater from the lane with two seconds left in overtime to give second-seeded Lynchburg-Clay a 58-56 victory over Fairland in the Division III girls district championship game.
"What a game," Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs coach Whitney Lewis said. "Nobody wanted it to end."
The top-seeded Fairland Dragons (21-3) didn't want it to end the way it did and for a while, they appeared ready to advance to Logan at 8 p.m. Wednesday to take on Alexander in the regional semifinals.
Trailing 46-45, Fairland took the lead on a put back by Jackie Wagner with 44 seconds left in regulation. Emily Chapman then made a steal, was fouled, and hit two free throws to give the Dragons a 49-46 lead with 19 seconds left.
Binkley, though, hit an off-balance 3-pointer from 21 feet with four seconds remaining to send it to overtime.
A senior center with guard skills, Binkley said both shots were the result of years of practice.
"Both were kind of floaters and I've practiced those more than anything," said Binkley, who scored 23 on 10-for-15 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Fairland coach Jon Buchanan blamed himself for the loss.
"In coaching the old adage is you foul up three," Buchanan said. "We didn't. Put that on me. We're going home because of it."
The Dragons' players disagreed, pointing to 6-for-12 foul shooting and 20 turnovers as culprits.
Lynchburg-Clay (22-3), which eliminated Fairland in the district championship game last season, was having none of it.
"Oh my gosh, Fairland is a great team," Lewis said. "They made us make play after play. Emily Chapman is phenomenal."
Chapman scored eight and pulled down five rebounds, but her main value was handling the ball against the Mustangs' vaunted press. Chapman distributed the ball well and the result was 14 points by Allie Marshall, 11 by Kelsie Warnock and 10 by Taylar Wilson. Warnock also snagged 10 rebounds, made three steals and blocked a shot.
Marshall's 3-pointer with 46 seconds left in overtime tied the score 56-56, but the Dragons didn't regain possession until one second remained.
"I don't think a lot of people thought we were in the class with Lynchburg-Clay," Buchanan said. "They're a very good team and they have a real chance to go to (the state tournament)."
Binkley's twin sister, Hannah, scored 14 points.
"Fairland's a tough team," McKayla Binkley said. "They made us work for it."
The Dragons lose only one senior, University of Rio Grande recruit Issy McKinney. Fairland returns all five starters.
"How many teams this time of year can say they have a realistic chance to go to (the state tournament) next year," asked Buchanan, whose team has won 20 games and reached the district finals six consecutive seasons. "We do. I'm sure our players are going to work hard for that."
