Richter's Late Trey Keys ACGC Win Over Pl'ville in OT

If you are one who likes "nail biting", "edge of your seat," "last minute heroics" drama in your athletic contests, then you would have loved the finishes of the ACGC basketball teams' victories at Pleasantville on Monday. Both the Charger girls' and boys' teams picked up dramatic victories over the Trojans, with the girls winning 52-49 in the last minute of overtime and the boys claiming a 53-52 victory with no time showing on the clock! Each game deserves its own story, so we will take them in the order in which they happened.

The first half of the girls' contest found the Chargers breaking a 13-13 tie near the end of the first quarter on a three point play by Saige O'Brien to take a 16-13 lead after one quarter of play. When the Charger defense held the Trojans scoreless over the last four minutes of the second stanza, the visitors took a 24-19 lead into the halftime break.

With five different Chargers--Alaina Bunde, Mercedez Richter, Reagen Carney, EmmaKay McClain and O'Brien--putting points on the board in the third quarter, ACGC had a reasonably comfortable lead at 38-32 heading into the final frame.

When ACGC went just three of thirteen from the floor in the fourth quarter, Pleasantville took advantage and tied the score at 40-40 with 4:40 showing on the clock. After the teams traded baskets two more times to knot the score at 44-44, neither team scored over the last minute and a half and the game headed to overtime.

O'Brien scored the first four Charger points in overtime, but the Trojans scored five and held a 49-48 lead with a minute and a half to go. At this point this observer was yelling at the computer screen, shouting instructions to the Chargers to "get the ball inside."

They ignored the suggestion. Instead a freshman--a FRESHMAN!--took a three point shot from the corner. But this is no ordinary freshman. Mercedez Richter is a battle tested veteran by now and the 5'10" frosh nailed what proved to be the game winner! Pandemonium among Charger fans ensued! The other freshman in the Charger eight girl rotation, Reagan Carney, added a free throw to close out the scoring and the Chargers came home with hard fought overtime win.

"That was absolutely crazy. Glad to finally win a close one," were the first words out of Charger coach Brad Baudler following the big win. "The girls had great energy and effort. A lot of happy smiles and they found a way to win. Very proud of the girls."

Three Chargers scored in double figures, with McClain netting 11, and Bunde and O'Brien each scoring 10. Unofficial shooting stats show ACGC connecting on 21 of 50 field goal tries for 42% and 8 of 15 from the free throw line for 53%. The Chargers made four treys, while Pl'ville scored just two. Additional individual statistics will be added when available.

The win is important for a couple of reasons. First, it is a road win. Its always a challenge to win on the road, especially after an hour and forty five minute bus ride. Second, it should restore some confidence for the girls after losing five of their previous six games.

The win improves the season record to 11-9 overall, with a 9-5 mark in the WCAC. The team has now tied the ACGC record for most wins in a season which was set last year.

Score by quarter:

ACGC 16 8 14 6 8--52

Pl'Ville 13 6 13 12 5--49