Late free throws stun Greenwood girls basketball team
By Harry Toufar The Greenwood girls basketball team had Columbus Catholic’s number last year, winning both regular season contests and their home playoff game against the Dons. For 35 minutes it appeared Greenwood had their fourth win in a row over the Dons in their recent matchup in Marshfield. Unfortunately, teams need to play the full 36 minutes.
The Jan. 9 game was scoreless for two and a half minutes, until senior Tysen Lindner finally dropped one to get Greenwood on the board. Addison Davidson drilled one from beyond the arc and Eliska Louckova scored, putting Greenwood up 7-0. Columbus made a 3-pointer, but Davidson countered with two charity tosses and Lindner scored again, putting the Indians up by eight points.
Senior Bria Thomas hit a 3-pointer to offset a basket by the Dons. The Dons scored two more baskets, but Greenwood came right back with a Kolano free throw and a Thomas 2-pointer. Columbus Catholic managed to tie the game at 19 apiece, but a Louckova free throw and basket by Davidson sent Greenwood into the locker room up by three.
Tatym Travis finally got on the board with a basket to start the second half. Two Columbus free throws made it 24-22 until Louckova sank one, putting her team back up by four. Columbus scored twice to knot the game at 26-26 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
Coach Trevor Wuethrich used the inside strength of Lindner, Travis, and Kolano to attack the hoop. Travis drilled a 3-pointer home around the 12-minute mark and followed that with another three, pushing Greenwood’s lead to six. The Dons scored on an inbound play only to see Kolano score underneath the basket. Again Columbus came back with two more baskets making it a 2-point ball game. Lindner sank one free throw to push the lead back to three. Columbus made three of four free throws to tie the game and got their first lead of the game with a basket. Travis scored two and Davidson made both of her free throws, giving Greenwood a 1-point lead with just over a minute to play.
Columbus brought the ball up looking to take the lead, but Greenwood tightened up their defense, denying the Dons a good look at the basket. A timeout was taken by Columbus to set up a last shot. Freshman Lizzy Holz drove the lane and was fouled by Kolano. Up to that point, Kolano unofficially had five blocks on the night. She thought she had number six, but the referee did not see it that way. Holz stepped to the line and sank the first one. Greenwwood called a timeout in an attempt to ice the freshman. It didn’t work, as Holz knocked in the second. A last shot from beyond half court was well short, giving the Indians a heartbreaking loss, 40-39.
Davidson scored 10 points on a 2-pointer, 3-pointer, and sinking five of her six free throws. Travis also garnered 10 points, making four baskets, including two 3-pointers. Louckova had 6 points with three baskets. Lindner and Thomas had 5 points. Kolano added 3 points.
Greenwood falls to 2-4 in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference, 6-6 overall.
