Lady Falcons pulled away from Ramblers

WINTHROP -- It turned into a battle of wits but the Mountain Valley girls stepped it up when things were on the line in a basketball game last Thursday.

Makayla White made five free throws and Ayla Allen scored clutch baskets in the second half as Mountain Valley pulled away for a 55-49 win over Winthrop. The game was the night cap of a rare doubleheader, following the boys' game.

In the extra session, White (10 points) sank a pair from the line and Allen scored a basket. This put Winthrop in a catch-up mode and created some mistakes in the foul-plagued contest. MV scored the first six points in overtime. The play was scrappy and the teams committed a combined close to 50 fouls.

Following a Rambler missed shot, White grabbed the rebound and drew a foul and made both free throws. Winthrop turned the ball over and again fouled White, who made the second free throw.

Mountain Valley had also made its five free throws in the fourth quarter, including four by point guard Lindsay Gallant. The score changed sides or was tied eight times in the wild fourth quarter. Allen (18 points) had buried a three pointer for a 42-38 lead and then scored with 29 seconds left in regulation to put the Falcons ahead 46-44. But it proved to be short lived because Nikki Scott who scored a game-high 28 points, broke loose and tied the score with seven seconds left.

The Falcons established control early and scored 11 of the first 12 points of the game. Breana Roberts opened the scoring, Allen and McKenzie Paterson (10 points) each drained three pointers and Gallant hit a jump shot. A Paterson trey at the buzzer put the Falcons up 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.

A basket by Allen and a Gallant trey gave MV a 24-23 lead. Scott made two free throws and Winthrop led 25-24 at halftime.

Mountain Valley’s late game success from the free throw line, was just the opposite of two of eight in the first half. Winthrop made 15 of 20 from the charity stripe in the first half.