Kelly tops Delta in overtime to win title

Kelly and Delta may have combined for only 90 points in the final of the Lady Devils Invitational Tournament on Saturday at Chaffee, but there was still plenty of excitement as the Hawks pulled out a 47-43 overtime victory.

In a meeting of undefeated teams, it was top-seeded Kelly (4-0) which was able to use its depth and pressure to finally get the best of a young Delta (4-1) squad. Due to fouls, the second-seeded Bobcats were down to just six players by the time overtime rolled around, while the Hawks were shuffling players in and out throughout the game.

"They do a real good job. They're well coached and they have a lot of depth," Delta coach Randy White said of the Hawks.

Delta's inexperience showed late. Delta sophomore Kaci Menz got the ball with about 10 seconds remaining but did not realize how much time was on the clock. Menz allowed several seconds to run down before getting down court and was called for a charge on a desperation shot as time expired.

Once in overtime, the Bobcats allowed nearly 30 seconds to tick off the clock in the final minute as they failed to foul. Kelly turned the ball over with about 10 seconds remaining, but Delta gave the ball back on a violation on the inbounds play.

"We're young and we still have a lot to learn, and our experience is going to get us to that point," White said.

For the Hawks, it was a tale of two halves. In the first half, Kelly trailed throughout, down by as many as nine points before cutting the score to 20-18 by halftime.

The shots started to fall in the third quarter. Kelly took its first lead at 22-21, and by the end of the quarter the Hawks led 34-29.

"The girls came out and played hard in the second half and played as a team. They had a positive attitude in the second half," Kelly coach Rod McQuerter said. "Those are our three goals for every game. Play hard, have a positive attitude and play as a team."

In the final minute of regulation, with the score tied 43-43, both teams had chances to take the lead. Kelly used two timeouts over the final 1:13 but could not score out of either timeout. Delta failed to convert on a couple of shots from close range.

Once in overtime, Kelly got the opening tip and scored on a layin from Kelly Essner. On its next possession, the Hawks took nearly two minutes off the clock. Delta was held scoreless in the extra frame.

"When you play Delta, you have to be patient -- do the little things," McQuerter said.

Essner led the Hawks with 12 points. Jessica Burnett added 10 for Kelly.

Delta sophomore Shea Smith led the Bobcats with 13 points. Sarah Cook had 10.

Scott County Central finished third with a 62-53 win over Sikeston, and Scott City (3-3) beat Chaffee (1-4) 39-29 in the consolation finals.

KELLY 47, DELTA 43

Delta 11 9 9 14 0 -- 43

Kelly 8 10 16 9 4 -- 47

DELTA (43) -- Shea Smith 13, Sarah Cook 10, Ashley Deprow 8, Kacie Seabaugh 4, Rachel Ware 2, Kaci Menz 6. FG 14, FT 13-23, F 18 (3-pointers: Smith 2. Fouled out: Menz and Deprow)

KELLY (47) -- Kelly Essner 12, Jessica Burnett 10, Mindy Robert 9, Rachel Kline 4, Leigh Ann Buchheit 5, Brittany Ponder 4, Nikki Weiny 1, Stephanie Hency 2. FG 17, FT 11-21, F 21 (3-pointers: Essner 1, Buchheit 1. Fouled out: none)

Third place

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL 62, SIKESTON 53

Sikeston 9 12 15 17 -- 53

SCC 17 21 7 17 -- 62

SIKESTON (53) -- Paige Silverthorn 2, Amber Minner 3, Allison Blurton 8, Martika Davis 6, McCray 21, Movuin 13. FG 13, FT 4-14, F 8 (3-pointers: Minner 1, Blurton 1. Fouled out: none)

SCOTT COUNTY (62) -- Brittney Peet 2, Johnson 23, Janet Penrod 9, Brittany Godwin 16, Jessica McCray 2, Myleka Mitchell 10 . FG 25, FT 3-7, F 16 (3-pointers: Johnson 2, Godwin 4, Penrod 3. Fouled out: none)

Consolation championship

SCOTT CITY 39, CHAFFEE 29

Chaffee 6 10 0 13 -- 29

Scott City 6 9 22 2 -- 39

CHAFFEE (29) -- Sara Petitt 1, Whitney Schlosser 2, Mindy Hendrix 7, Rachel Hendrix 8, Kegan Orr 11. FG 9, FT 10-19, F 13 (3-pointers: Orr 1. Fouled out: M. Hendrix)

SCOTT CITY (39) -- Angie Laxton 2, Jessica Warren 2, Nora Glasser 2, Alisha Obermann 4, Kelley Hicks 11, Christy Laxton 18. FG 17, FT 0-4, F 17 (3-pointers: C. Laxton 4, Hicks 1. Fouled out: none)