By Rob Potter
HANCOCK — February 17, 2004 – The Family School Lady Falcons capped off an undefeated week of basketball in dramatic fashion Friday night.
The Lady Falcons topped a very determined Livingston Manor team in overtime, 48-43, in an OCIAA Division VI game on The Family School’s home court, which is also known as “The Falcons’ Nest.”
After recording victories in games versus Chapel Field, Eldred and Liberty earlier in the week, The Family School scored its fourth consecutive win. But the Lady Falcons needed some extra time to do so.
Manor rallied from a 28-16 halftime deficit to force the contest into the extra stanza. With just 14 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Lady Wildcat guard Ashley Mann drilled a three-point shot from the wing to knot the score at 39-39.
On its next possession, The Family School (12-4, 4-3 OCIAA) missed a shot and a Manor player was able to grab the rebound with 3.3 seconds left. Following a timeout, the Lady Wildcats could not get a shot off before the buzzer and the game went into overtime.
Thirty-seven seconds into the extra session, Charlene Vail made a free throw to give Manor (8-7, 3-4 OCIAA) a 40-39 lead.
But The Family School regained the lead when Rachel Van Arsdale hit a jump shot with 2:45 showing on the clock. Thirty-two seconds later, Cecili Crenshaw made a foul shot to put the Lady Falcons up 42-40.
Lady Falcon guard Jen Cole then scored two consecutive baskets after making a pair of steals within a 15-second span to give her team a 46-40 lead with just 39 seconds left in OT.
Mann swished another three-pointer to pull the Lady Wildcats to within 46-43 with 48 seconds remaining.
But Joanna Heretick drove the lane and scored with 20 seconds left to seal the victory for The Family School.
“I have a great bunch of kids on this team,” Family School Coach Carlton Williams said. “They didn’t get rattled when Livingston Manor made that three-point shot to send the game into overtime. They fought hard and didn’t give up.”
Williams added that he is very pleased that the Lady Falcons embody the spirit of teamwork.
“Those two steals by Jen Cole were big and Mary Sherrin had 15 rebounds for us tonight,” Williams said. “Everybody contributes on this team. They all have a role and they just go out and play their roles very well.”
Cole scored a game-high 19 points and Heretick finished with 16.
Manor was led by Charlene Vail, who netted 13 points. Mann had 8 points and Carrie Lewis and Jennifer Taggart each added 6 points.
“These girls did all I could ask for in the second half by coming back like that,” Manor Coach Kevin Clifford said. “We were a little more focused in the second half.”
Clifford also praised the Lady Falcons and their performance.
“They’ve got a good team,” he said. “It’s a battle every time we play them.”