Churchill Tops Whitman in OT 55-50 Despite 34 from Russell
Churchill sparking an 8-1 run at the beginning of the 3rd quarter mostly due to solid free-throw shooting.
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Bulldogs’ hard-nosed, junior guard Ashley Nelson threw up shot with: 02 left on the clock and drained a three-pointer to send the game into OT.
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Whitman senior guard Susan Russell, who has committed to Bates College, finished with a game high 34 points.
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Written by: Kelechi Ukpabi
BETHESDA, MD - Walt Whitman High School- Basketball fans got a treat tonight in a classic girls basketball 4A matchup as the Bulldogs of Winston Churchill took on the Walt Whitman Vikings in an overtime nail-biter. The contest resembled a football game with girls hitting the floor, making hard contact, and players going to the bench wincing from injuries.
Churchill held off the Vikings to win 55-50 despite a superstar performance from Whitman senior guard Susan Russell. Russell, who has committed to Bates College, finished with a game high 34 points. The Bulldogs got some late game heroics at the end of regulation to take the Vikings to overtime.
The Bulldogs' hard-nosed, junior guard Ashley Nelson extended the game at the end of the 4th quarter with her team down 48-45 with the last seconds winding down on the clock. Nelson controlled the ball on the right wing and threw up a prayer with: 02 left on the clock.
Nelson drained the three-pointer as the horn sounded to tie the game and her teammates rushed the court. The visiting Churchill fans went crazy in the stands as players from both sides prepared for an extra period of basketball.
"I got the ball with seconds left and I just told my teammates to clear out. When the ball left my fingertips, I wasn't sure if it was going in or not because I was defended pretty well. I was so happy when it went it..." said Nelson about her clutch shot.
Churchill began the game with a 12-2 run with a early Nelson three pointer and physical inside play from their center Sarafina Arthur- Williams. Then as the first quarter progressed, the Bulldogs lost their shooting touch and began to miss high percentage opportunities close to the basket.
Even though Churchill was missing shots left and right, they continued to play stifling defense.
Both teams played very sloppy in the first quarter, committing turnovers and making errand passes out of bounds. The first quarter finished with a score of 12-6 and the game did not show a lot of promise of being an exciting one, due to the tough Churchill defense and lack-luster play by both teams.
The 2nd quarter began with a quick three-pointer from Caroline Kahlenberg, a four year starter on varsity who has committed to Middlebury College.
Churchill then implemented a three-quarter court press which forced turnovers and gave the Bulldogs some easy looks. Whitman had trouble advancing the ball with the tough pressure from Churchill. The sloppy play continued and the score stood at 16-9 halfway through the 2nd quarter.
With about 4 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Viking senior Kat Barth took over scoring on three straight buckets.
With 3:51 left in the quarter, Barth got the crowd on their feet with a crossover and dribble drive to the hoop. The stands went wild again when on the very next possession when Barth broke down the Bulldog defenders and scored on a acrobatic layup and then stole the ball on Churchill's next trip and found her teammate for the fast break layup to put Whitman within three points with a score of 20-17.
The Vikings cut lead to one after a Russell jump shot and the halftime score stood at 20-19.
Whitman came out in the 3rd quarter with a 2-3 zone and began to triple team towering Churchill center Sarafina Arthur- Williams. The Bulldogs were making a conscience effort to try to feed the ball to Arthur-Williams, but Whitman did an excellent job denying her the ball and closing in on her when she received the entry pass.
Whitman could not capitalize on their defensive pressure. The Vikings were throwing up bricks and air balls to begin the third quarter due to the stingy Bulldog defense and poor shooting. Churchill began to attack the basket and collect fouls, sparking an 8-1 run at the beginning of the quarter mostly due to solid free-throw shooting.
Then, halfway through the 3rd quarter, Whitman went on a 13-4 run, fueled by the play of Susan Russell. Russell connected on a three pointer to score the Vikings first bucket of the quarter with 3:50 left in the period.
The Russell scored on a fast break layup, a pull-up jumper, and another lay-in to cut the Bulldog lead to one. Russell then hit another short-pull up jumper to give the Vikings their first lead of the game at 33-32.
Leeda Jewayni of Churchill, then scored the last four points of the quarter to give the Bulldogs a 36-33 lead at the end of three quarters.
Jewayni continued her hot streak in the 4th quarter, draining two big jumpers early in the quarter. Jewayni credited her hot shooting to her hard work in practice.
"I have been working on my driving and shooting range in practice and it has been paying off...I just keep trying to improve and help my team..." said Jewayni.
The 4th quarter is where Susan Russell did most of her damage. Russell scored 16 of her 34 points in the period which included a clutch three-pointer with 2:40 left to tie the game at 45 and then she scored on a breakaway layup to give the Vikings a two point lead at 47-45 with 2:00 left.
Russell then went 1 for 2 at the foul line with: 25 left. The score stood at 48-45 and that's where Ashley Nelson made her big three pointer to put the contest in overtime.
Nelson came up big again for the Bulldogs hitting a back-breaking three to begin the overtime period. The Vikings could not recover and were only able to muster two points in the overtime.
Churchill defenders continued to force turnovers and pressure Whitman ball handlers to only allow two points in the extra period. Nelson made a clutch free throw with: 09 seconds left to ice the game and seal the victory for the Bulldogs.
