Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
The sixth ranked Class AA Riverdale Lady Rebels took on Class AAA foe East Rankin yesterday in first round action of the annual Brookhaven Holiday Tournament and came away with a narrow 60-55 double overtime win to remain undefeated at 15-0. Kallie Bethard had a game high 20 points to lead Riverdale to the win and a date with top ranked Bowling Green this evening.
Riverdale got out to an early 5-2 lead over the Lady Patriots in the early stages of the opening quarter but East Rankin would register an 11-2 run during a three minute span to take a 13-7 lead with 1:17 left in the quarter. Two Kristen Byrd baskets spurred the run and Karlie Coghlan’s soft floater in the lane capped the scoring to give East Rankin a six point cushion.
(Above) Riverdale's Morgan Garrett (#3) launches a 3-pointer in the second overtime period
Riverdale’s Rebekah Burleson slowed the run with a lay-in off an East Rankin turnover with 13 seconds left in the quarter but Rachel Savage’s fast break basket at the horn gave East Rankin a 15-9 lead after one quarter of play.
Riverdale answered with an 8-2 run to open the second quarter to knot things up at 17-17 behind Melissa Savell’s strong inside game but East Rankin battled back.
Karleigh Keeton hit a jumper from the elbow and then Keeton served up an assist to Kaila Knight to give ERA a 21-17 lead with 1:43 remaining in the half. Following a Kristen Byrd free throw that gave ERA a 22-17 lead both squads traded baskets in the final 21 seconds to send the teams into the locker-room with East Rankin holding a 24-19 advantage.
Riverdale would trim the deficit to two points on three occasions during the third quarter but East Rankin fired back each time. The Lady Patriots got a critical 3-pointer from Karlie Coghlan from the top of the key with 31 seconds left in the quarter to send the game into the fourth quarter with ERA on top 33-29.
Riverdale caught fire early in the fourth quarter as Kallie Bethard converted a basket in the paint one minute into the quarter and Bethard drained a 3-pointer from the corner thirty seconds later to give Riverdale their first lead since the 4:29 mark of the opening quarter. The lead would change hands on four more occasions during the final six minutes of regulation but with the contest tied at 39-39 and 47 seconds remaining Bethard canned another 3-pointer from the corner to give the Lady Rebels a 42-39 lead.
(Above) Karlie Coghlan (#4) of East Rankin drives for a basket in the first half
East Rankin got a quick 10’ jumper from Kristen Byrd with 29 seconds left in regulation to trim the lead to 42-41. ERA quickly put Riverdale on the free throw line where Melissa Savell hit one of two free throws to make it 43-41 and 26 seconds remaining.
East Rankin got off an open shot with 10 seconds remaining but the ball hit the side rim right into the hands of Kaitlyn Busby who got around a Riverdale defender for the rebound and converted to tie things up at 43-43 with 7 seconds remaining.
Morgan Garrett’s long 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the front rim sending the contest into overtime.
East Rankin threatened to hand out Riverdale’s first defeat midway through the first overtime period as the Lady Patriots garnered a 51-47 lead after two Karleigh Keeton free throws at the 1:19 mark but Riverdale’s Morgan Garrett had other ideas. The senior canned a 3-pointer from the corner at the 1:04 mark and after ERA scored a basket in the paint to increase the lead to 53-50 Garrett hit another 3-pointer from the same spot to tie the game at 53-53 with 15 seconds remaining in the first overtime period.
(Above) Riverdale's Melissa Savell (#33) looks to drive in the second half
After an East Rankin turnover Riverdale’s shot attempt at the buzzer failed to draw rim and the contest went into the second overtime period.
Riverdale drew first blood as Kallie Bethard drained a 3-pointer from the wing 45 seconds into the period to give the Lady Rebels a 56-53 lead.
Kristen Byrd of East Rankin converted on a jump hook in the paint to trim the deficit to 56-55 with 2:41 remaining but Riverdale would close out by hitting on 4/5 free throws to take a hard fought 60-55 double overtime win.
Kallie Bethard led Riverdale with a game high 20 points, Morgan Garrett added 19, Melissa Savell 12, Rebekah Burleson 5 and Allie Brotherton 4.
For East Rankin (3-10) Kristen Byrd had 14, Karlie Coghlan 12, Kaitlyn Busby 10, Karleigh Keeton 8, Brittney Vinzant 7 and Rachel Savage and Kaila Knight 2 each.
