Eads Girls Defeated in Double-OT

May Get Another Chance at Walsh in Christmas Tournament

By Betsy Barnett

December 17, 2004

An all-out, gutsy performance by two Eagle girl’s teams, one from the north and one from the south, was enjoyed by a packed house Saturday night in Eads as the highly state-ranked Walsh Lady Eagles just managed to slip by the undefeated Eads Lady Eagles, 55-54, in a double-overtime match up. Bitter disappointment for Eads may find quick revenge as the two teams are seeded on the same side of the Lamar Holiday Tournament bracket slated for this weekend at the Community Building in Lamar.

Eads came out hot early behind a long ball each by Morrell Koch and Jennie Richards and two buckets by point guard Alyssa Hadley and would find themselves leading the Eagles from the south, 10-6, after one intense quarter of play. In the second, both teams put on ferocious man defensive stands that bothered the respective offenses and resulted in a number of turnovers from both ends. Eads continued to shoot the long ball well with Koch hitting her second of three on the night and Hadley adding a down-towner to her tally. However, it would be foul trouble on Eads’ part that allowed Walsh to stay in the contest heading towards half. They would hit five of seven freebies to stay apace trailing 22-19. The pace slowed into the third quarter with both teams, but Eads still gained a slight advantage behind Koch’s third long ball and another by Kerissa Sicklebower. Walsh continued to get their scoring production behind five free throws. Then Walsh got hot in the fourth and Eads’ youth and inexperience came into play. Keegan Felzien would hit two huge three’s from the long wing as Eads tried to control the inside attack from Walsh. Walsh would tie it all up despite opportunities at the free throw line for Eads. After four complete it was knotted 32-32.

There would be two overtime contests that had the large crowd on their feet. Eads had an opportunity to win the game twice, but small little mistakes made the difference as Walsh capitalized on a couple of mental letdowns by Eads. For both teams it came down to the free throw line as they both struggled under the intensive pressure. The rest of the game was a battle under the boards between Eads’ freshman Talli Hansen and Walsh’s senior Brandi Alton. Eads would be leading in the first OT by a slight margin and again in the second when two big steals by Kelsey Felzien, the point guard for Walsh, saved them from disaster. At the end, it would be a steal and a layup from Felzien that won the game, 55-54.

Hadley and Koch led in the scoring department for Eads with 15 and 13 points respectively.

Eads may get another chance at Walsh in this weekend’s big Lamar Holiday Christmas Tournament. Eads ended up seeded an unlikely sixth with Walsh sitting second, placing both on the same side of the bracket and with an opportunity to meet once again in the semifinals. If that happens the sparks will fly in the Lamar Community Building and this end-of-the-year bash may be the best tournament yet in the girl’s bracket. Eads will face Springfield, the third seeded team, in the opening round on Thursday at 11:30 a.m.