The Lady Chargers and Cougars battled for the top spot in the Mid-Hoosier Conference play on Thursday night. Each team came into the game with no losses in conference play. The game itself was an offensive struggle for both teams behind a tough, physical defensive effort from each squad. North Decatur shot the ball poorly from the field only connecting on 27% of their attempts. North Decatur led slightly after the first quarter but little separation could be found in the first half with the teams locked into a 15-15 tie at halftime. South Decatur took advantage in the late 3rd and most of the 4th quarter until the Chargers made it close. North’s abysmal free-throw shooting looked like it would be the nail in the Charger coffin. North trailed 35-30 with under a minute to play and missed both free throw attempts to try and cut into the Cougar lead. Again the Chargers got the ball back on the next Cougar possession after a steal by Thackery. She was fouled and sent to the line and made one of two attempts to make the score 35-31. South’s Kiley Best was fouled on the next possession and made 1/2 at the line to push the lead back to 5 at 36-31 with 12.5 seconds left. North took the inbounds play and Madi Allen drove the length of the floor and kicked it back to Clare Kinker for a 3 pointer to make the game 36-34 with 2.5 remaining in the game. North Decatur took a time out and on the inbound the Cougars costly turnover out of bounds set of the Chargers under their own basket with still 2.5 on the clock and trailing by 2 points. Out of the timeout, North sent Allen to the strong side corner and Haley to the weak side where Kinker found the left handed shooter open and Kelsey connected for the game winner as time expired, 37-36.
Submitted by the school’s athletic department.