CCS girls end strong for win over New Miami

Photos: New Miami vs. Cincinnati Christian

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Robert Leifheit/The New Miami Lady Vikings traveled to Cincinnati Christian, to take on the Lady Cougars, for a baketball shootout, Wednesday, January 13, 2010, in Fairfield.

Clock issue interesting, but Cougars finish off 13-0 game-ending run to top New Miami 45-41.

By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer Updated 7:17 AM Thursday, January 14, 2010

FAIRFIELD TWP. — The final seconds were shrouded by controversy, yet they were only part of a game-ending surge by Cincinnati Christian School’s girls basketball team Wednesday, Jan. 13.

The Cougars outscored visiting New Miami 13-0 over the last 4:05 and recorded a 45-41 Miami Valley Conference victory, a significant “W” for a young squad trying to find its way.

“We’ve been slowly getting better,” CCS coach Kim Richter said. “We’ve been having some small successes but not victories, so it’s nice to finally be able to get one.

“I’ve been talking to the girls about encouraging each other and loving each other, and they really took care of each other tonight,” she added. “The team stepped up.”

Sarah Carroll tallied 19 points and Anna Wolford added 10 for the Cougars, who improved to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the MVC.

Wolford, a freshman guard, scored the final four points in the last 10 seconds, or at least what was determined to be the last 10 seconds.

Here’s what happened:

With 15 seconds left and the game tied 41-41, the Vikings had possession and called a timeout near midcourt. They inbounded the ball, worked it around and missed a jumper.

CCS went the other way and broke the deadlock with a Wolford layup, and she was fouled. There was only one problem — the clock hadn’t moved. It still read 0:15.

After a delay, the officials decided to count the basket and put 10 seconds on the clock. “They said five seconds was all they could account for for sure,” Richter said.

Wolford missed the free throw, but added another layup after a New Miami turnover.

“I wasn’t paying any attention to the clock — I was just living in the moment,” Wolford said. “I was getting a little nervous on the line. You don’t really feel it until after you make the big shot. It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I just made that.’ It was exciting.”

Vikings coach Jason Dietz clearly wasn’t happy about the officials’ decision regarding the clock and Wolford’s penultimate basket.

“We ran a pick and roll,” Dietz said. “We held the ball. We made a pass. We took a shot in the lane. We missed. They go the length of the floor and get an and-1 basket. And all of that happened in five seconds. That might be the fastest transition in history.”

He also credited the Cougars for their play down the stretch.

“Human beings make mistakes, so you can’t blame the loss on that,” Dietz said.

“What we could control was how we played in the fourth quarter,” he continued. “As a team, if you don’t put yourselves in that position, you don’t have to worry about those issues.”

Kim Gault had 14 points and 10 boards for New Miami (7-4, 4-3). Amanda Matheny added 10 points, while Lauren Davidson snagged eight rebounds.

For CCS, Kirsten Paul collected nine points, nine boards, five assists and three steals.

In addition, Amanda Richburg notched 11 caroms, Carroll hauled in six rebounds, and Wolford added five boards, four steals and three assists.

“I feel bad the game went the way it did, but I’m not going to take anything away from our girls,” Richter said. “I feel our girls deserved to win the game.”

Both teams resume MVC action Saturday, the Vikings at Lockland and the Cougars at Summit Country Day.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.

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