STEPHENVILLE —
The atmosphere at the Class 2A Region II final game at Tarleton State University was almost too much for the gymnasium to handle.
Brock and Peaster did their part in aiding that, as the two faced off for the first time in regional playoff history.
It took four quarters and an overtime period to do it, but the Lady Eagles prevailed, 27-25.
“We said at the beginning of the season that we weren’t going to play in the Whataburger Tournament because we figured it would be us and Peaster in the finals, and we didn’t want to have to play them three times before we got here,” said Brock head coach Skip Townsend. “We thought that this would be the way that it was going to happen, and that’s how it ended up.”
Brock (35-2) won the early rebounding battle, but the Lady Hounds were able to maintain a lead with strong offense on the other end, and a Courtney Haney layup yielded a 10-6 advantage with four minutes left in the opening period.
The Eagles had ample opportunities to tie or take the lead, but struggled shooting, and Peaster (30-5) took advantage to widen the gap to 17-12.
It was only a matter of time before Brock made its move, tying the score at 17 after Savannah Fisher’s 3-pointer.
Neither team would make headway for the next few minutes, as the score remained tied. The Eagles got a boost when Kamy Cole made a jumper with three seconds left in the half, giving Brock a field goal advantage at the break.
Each team’s defense took over the game, and the offensive pace slowed to a standstill in the second half, as both teams goose-egged in the third quarter.
For the first time since the first quarter, Peaster got a little boost, finding Skye Daugherty on an inbounds pass that saw the Lady Hounds tie the contest at 22 with 4:06 on the clock.
It was the first field goal of the half for Peaster, who went on to score a total of eight points in the last four periods.
“We weren’t worried about a lot of offense. We’re about a lot of defense, and the first quarter was probably the worst defense we’ve played all year,” Townsend said. “We held them to one point in the second quarter and zero in the third.
“It was just a battle back and forth in the fourth quarter to see who could get the last shot.”
Almost a minute later, the Lady Eagles went up again, 24-22, on an Amy Henard layup. Peaster responded with two free throws from Mandy Makeever to even things up once again.
Each team would have a final chance to change the score, but couldn’t convert, sending the game into overtime.
It was the Lady Eagles who struck first, with Kenisha Harris’ putback for a 26-24 edge.
Peaster would have opportunities to tie at the free throw line, and Brock likewise had opportunities to put the game away, but neither happened, and the Lady Eagles were able to escape.
Brock will move on to play Poth Friday in the Class 2A state semifinal game held at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, in either the 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. game.
Brock 27, Peaster 25
BHS 14 6 0 4 3 - 27
PHS 17 1 0 6 1 - 25
Scoring:
BROCK— Kamy Cole, 3; Savannah Fisher, 6; Payton Shoush, 6; Kenisha Harris, 10; Paige Parliament, 2.
PEASTER — Amber Makeever, 5; Courtney Haney, 4; Skye Daugherty, 2; Mandy Makeever, 14.
3-Pointers: B- Fisher (2), Shoush (2). P- Amber Makeever, Mandy Makeever.
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