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  • Holly Pond High's Nora Henderson, right, battles for the ball with Good Hope's Elizabeth Hardin during the Broncos' overtime win Monday.

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December 7, 2009

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL: Broncos survive scare from Raiders

By Michael A. Cummings The Cullman Times

GOOD HOPE — GOOD HOPE — After splitting four meetings with Good Hope last season, Holly Pond High girls basketball coach Scott Adams expected a close encounter between the teams in their first meeting this year.

He got it, and then some.

Playing from behind most of the night, sixth-ranked (3A) Holly Pond overcame two late deficits on the way to a heart-stopping 75-72 overtime win at Good Hope Monday night in a Cullman County game.

With the victory, the Broncos (10-3) grabbed an early advantage over their Class 3A rivals in the county standings and kept the pressure on Cold Springs for the top spot.

“That was just a great high school basketball game,” said Adams, whose team used a 10-0 overtime run to take the lead for good. “And that’s what we expect whenever we play Good Hope.”

With 25 seconds remaining in regulation, Adams might have been expecting the worst. Two free throws by Good Hope’s Nina Mills put the Raiders up 62-57 and finished off a 7-0 run.

Seconds later, Holly Pond’s Kelsey Hawkins nailed a 3-pointer to close within two points. The Broncos stole the ensuing inbounds pass and Haley Bagwell followed with two free throws to tie it at 62 and send the game into overtime.

“I’ll be honest, when we went down by five points, I thought it was over,” said Adams, whose team outscored Good Hope (4-5) 13-10 in the extra period for the win. “But Kelsey Hawkins made a big 3-pointer for us, and Haley Bagwell made two huge free throws.”

Good Hope grabbed another five-point lead in overtime when two free throws by Ashley Stanley made it 69-64 with 2:26 remaining. But the Broncos reeled off a 10-0 run over the next two minutes to take control of the game.

Haley Terry started the rally with a 3-pointer before Alisha Keller scored the next five points, including an old-fashioned 3-point play that gave Holly Pond a 72-69 advantage.

Hawkins added two free throws in the closing minute to cap off the run.

Good Hope’s Kayla Tillman hit a 3-pointer on the Raiders’ next possession, but Bagwell iced it with another free throw.

“If you beat Good Hope at Good Hope, you have played outstanding basketball,” said Adams. “Anywhere we play Good Hope, they scare me to death. But to beat them on their home floor, I’m ecstatic.”

Hawkins and Bagwell tossed in 22 points apiece to lead Holly Pond, which hosts Susan Moore today in a Class 3A, Area 13 game. Keller finished with 18 points and Terry added 11.

Mills paced Good Hope with 22 points, Kayla Elrod tossed in 16 and Stanley finished with 13. Tillman scored 11 points and Elizabeth Hardin added 10.

The Raiders visit Corner today for a non-area game.

Michael Cummings can be reached by email at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.

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