Girls basketball: ’Riders pull one out

By Gregg Rettig

Managing Editor

The West Jefferson girls basketball team found its shooting touch just in time Thursday night.

The Roughriders trailed visiting Fisher Catholic, 26-22, with 1:51 left to play in Mid-State League/Cardinal Division action, but went on to outscore the Irish, 7-2, en route to a 29-28 victory.

“I felt like we were sleep walking on both ends of the floor tonight,” West Jeff coach Tim Converse said. “Fisher Catholic has a quick ball team and we made some uncharacteristic mistakes, but we were able to pull it out in the end.

“It wasn’t until the final minutes of the game that we seemed to get motivated and do what we needed to do. We just can’t start games out that way. We just can’t do it.”

The ’Riders (9-4, 6-3) trailed, 22-16, after three quarter of play and traded baskets with the Irish (8-8, 4-6) until Taylor Ratcliff started the scoring run at the 1:51 mark. Teammate Kelsey Kirkpatrick followed with a basket before Roughrider Charlies Iams nailed a 3-pointer with 1:15 left to play.

That gave West Jeff a 27-26 lead, but Fisher Catholic answered.

Haley Good hit the eventual game winner.

Fisher had one final chance but couldn’t score on an inbounds play at midcourt with two seconds left.

The Irish were 2-for-16 from the free-throw line.

“You can put them (the Irish) at the free-throw line, but don’t give them an open 3,” Converse said. “Give Fisher Catholic credit. They came in here tonight pretty well-prepared.

“Our players deserve credit, too. They were able to respond when they needed to respond.”

Iams led all scorers with 13 points, while Ratcliff finished with eight.