December 12, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
Esser, Drury key Highland OT win
Highland's Kylie Esser and Maddie Drury both scored on critical lane baskets in the final 80 seconds of 'OT' and Jessica Kosharek's pair of free throws at the 16.5 seconds mark sealed the win.
Argyle's Morgan Nelson got off a three point attempt at the buzzer, a shot that hit the rim, but which refused to fall for the Orioles.
Esser led the Orioles with 23 points with Drury adding 17 and Jessica Kosharek 15. All three players hit 13 in the second half.
Jena Saalsaa led the O's with 20 points. Jadyn Saalsaa and Alysabeth Lantz added 12 and 11 points respectively
"We make the game more difficult than it needs to be at times - but just like Kurt's (Orioles' coach Kurt Ritschard) team at Argyle - we're also very young," said Tarrell. "I really was proud though, that we didn't give up when we trailed by 10 with four minutes to go in regulation - or when we fell behind by 6 points right away in overtime.
Argyle players didn't make enough of the gifts offered to them by Cards' defenders as the O's connected on only 12 of 29 free throw opportunities Monday - in an narrow, OT ballgame. Highland players enjoyed better results, hitting on 22 of 36 free throw chances
"Their (Highland's) 1-3-1 trapping pressure was a factor there late in the game for us and as a team we're young and as I've said before, it's important that we learn how to play when we're ahead," said O's mentor Kurt Ritschard."We left our point guard out there an island, didn't use our safety and didn't follow our assignments in helping out and we're also averaging 26 turnovers a game right now - which is not a recipe for success. But on the other hand, this was probably the best we've played all year in terms of getting a lot of great looks inside the lane, better than any other time this year thus far and we scored 58 points, which is generally enough to get a win. And, we were just plain unlucky at times, having four late shots in the lane simply rim out."
The Orioles host Albany's Comets tonight (Thursday, Dec. 8.) and the O's varsity will also host Fall River Saturday (Dec. 10) at 2:30 p.m. in a rare Argyle matinee match-up.
Highland hosts Potosi Thursday and River Ridge Tuesday.
Highland 61 Argyle 58
Highland (fg-ft-tp): Mueller 1-0-2, J. Kosharek 5-3-15, Esser 4-15-23, M. Kosharek 1-2-4, Drury 7-2-15. Three-pointers: J. Kosharek 2, Drury. Totals: 15 (3) 22-36 61.
Argyle (fg-ft-tp): Nelson 1-0-2, Ostby 2-1-5, Lantz 4-2-11, Je. Saalsaa 7-5-20, Ja. Saalsaa 5-2-12, Godfrey 2-1-5. Three-pointers: Lantz, Je. Saalsaa. Totals: 20 (2) 12-29 58.
