In a 5D Regional Semifinal at Massaponax between the Panthers and Lightridge, fouls were piling up for both teams late in a close game. As Massaponax only had six players available, that was a problem. So was fatigue, as the game eventually went to double overtime.
While Lightridge did have the deeper rotation and bench, the Lightning still didn’t have Massaponax freshman guard Angel Scruggs. Scruggs scored the first two baskets of double overtime and scored a game-high 34 points, as the Panthers outlasted the Lightning 68-64.
With the win, Massaponax advanced to the 5D Regional Championship, which the Panthers will host Thursday against Stone Bridge. The victory also qualified Massaponax for the Class 5 State Tournament.
Scruggs played the whole game through exhaustion and a Lightridge defense that applied tremendous pressure after halftime. She also had 15 rebounds to go with her 34 points.
“That’s like the first time I’ve ever played the entire game through double overtime,” a smiling Scruggs said after the game. “Very tired and exhausted.”
Though drained, the freshman All-Commonwealth District selection knew she had to continue to attack in double overtime.
“I knew I had to continue to score if we were going to win,” she said.
Lightridge trailed 24-19 at half and 37-33 after three quarters, but the Lightning’s offense caught fire in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points. Lightridge’s defense put pressure on Scruggs and the other Panther ball-handlers and forced turnovers. Lightridge senior Molly Bollhorst and junior Gabrielle Dillard scored 25 of the team’s 26 points in the quarter.
Still, Massaponax hit back every time Lightridge made a run. Scruggs kept delivering on offense and on the boards, and junior guard Savannah Teel made some big plays as well. Massaponax led 59-57 late in regulation, but Dillard’s driving basket with three seconds left sent the game to overtime.
Both teams’ offensive mojo left them in overtime a little bit. Each team only managed two points in the first overtime. In the second overtime, Scruggs’ two baskets got the Panthers back on track, while Lightridge remained cold from the field. The Lightning crashed the offensive boards and got a ton of opportunities to convert, but got only one field goal per overtime.
“Angel, we’re lucky to have her,” said Massaponax Head Coach Ramon Hounshell. “She was wore out. I don’t think we’re going to be able to practice tomorrow going into Thursday’s game. Might have to give ’em a break.”
“Two overtimes with six bodies is tough,” he added.
Even with Scruggs’ great performance, Hounsell needed every one of his bodies to step up. Teel added 14 points, with 10 if them coming in the second half and overtime. Junior power Nadia Banawoe added a double-double, with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
“We managed, we’re doing the best we can with what we got,” said Hounshell, whose roster from last year has been depleted by graduation, injury, and a few girls who decided not to play basketball this season. “I couldn’t be happier.”
It was a disappointing end to an up-and-down season for Lightridge (14-12), which made the state tournament last year but came up just short of doing the same this year. Dillard finished with 19 points and Bollhorst 16 for the Lightning, while senior Jalyn Childress added 11 points.
Massaponax (17-7) will now hurriedly prepare for Lightridge’s district foe Stone Bridge, a team on a 12-game winning streak. After the victory, it wasn’t about that, though. It was about enjoying the moment and a hard-fought win that people will remember for a while.
“It’s very cool to have the experience to go to states,” said Scruggs. “This is my first year in high school and we’re going to states–this is all just so cool.”
–Chris Jollay