Sports

Shot at buzzer beats LHS girls in playoffs

STEVE KAY, LTN Sports Correspondent

Feb. 27, 2002 - It was heartbreak for the Lady Wolves.

Tonia Hall nailed a 30-foot last second shot to give Mitchell a stunning 44-41 win over Lincolnton Monday in the first round of the 2A state playoffs.

Hall’s shot came after Mitchell intercepted an inbound pass from Lincolnton just past halfcourt. Hall took a couple of dribbles and launched the game-winner.

With the win, Mitchell moves on to the second round. The loss ends Lincolnton’s season.

The Lady Wolves got off to a good start jumped out to a 16-7 lead behind nine points from Lauren Bartholomew, who had a game-high 21 points in her last basketball game in a Lincolnton jersey.

Bartholomew was nine of 15 from the field.

The Lady Mountaineers responded midway in the second quarter with a 9-0 run to make it get back in the contest.

Andrea Stroup’s shot with 45 seconds left in the half stopped the bleeding and gave the Lady Wolves a 22-21 lead at the break.

The second half turned into back-and-forth battle.

Mitchell held a 32-32 advantage at the end of the third and eventually went up by six before the Lady Wolves rallied back then tied at 41 with a Bartholomew basket.

Mitchell had a chance but turned the ball over with 6.7 seconds left.

That gave Lincolnton a chance but Mitchell got it and that set up the big game-winning shot.

Mitchell’s heroine, Hall, led her team with 19.

Bartholomew closed out her career with one of her best games. She and Stroup (16 points) kept the Lady Wolves in contention.

Lindsey Sain also played well on the defensive end with some key steals and overall hustle. Sain also contributed offensively too. She added four points.

Mitchell 7-14-12-10 — 44

Lincolnton 16-6-10-9—41

M — Hall 1, Pate 11, Buchanan 8, Paffrath 6.

L — Bartholomew 21, Stroup 16, Sain 4.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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