High school basketball: Silver Wolves survive double-OT duel with Spartans in 5A girls tournament

MURRAY — Despite going scoreless in the second quarter, the Fremont Silver Wolves were able to rally and fight back for the 66-57 double-overtime victory over Murray in the 5A girls state tournament Tuesday night.

"Murray had us the whole game, but we just hung in there and took the game," said Fremont head coach Larry Hadley.

Fremont was able to pull within 10 points at the end of the third quarter, and the uphill battle lit a spark under the Silver Wolves at that moment. Full-court defense was the key to their successful fourth quarter, forcing multiple Murray turnovers and converting them into baskets.

LaChere Earl hit two free throws to cut Fremont's deficit to six, after she had missed two free throws on her previous trip to the line.

"I kept my head, and knew the next two were going in," said Earl.

After the free throws, Fremont converted three Murray turnovers into points and tied the game at 42.

Murray's Madison Woodard made 1-of-2 from the line, then converted a breakaway steal into a basket to put the Spartans up by three. Fremont answered with a three-point play by senior Riley Rhees, who got the and-one basket to tie the game at 45.

After a player from each team went 1-for-2 from the line, leaving the game at 46 apiece, Fremont forced another Murray turnover and took possession of the ball with 58.9 seconds left in regulation. The Silver Wolves used the possession to burn over 50 seconds off the clock, until Rhees was fouled and went to the line, where she hit both free throws to give Fremont the lead with 7.3 seconds left.

The Spartans then charged down the court and, in dramatic fashion, were able to get the game-tying basket when Candace Prestwich hit a leaning jump shot as time expired.

In the first overtime, both teams struggled to pull away from the other. Both Kelsie Bell and Mikel Beus fouled out for Fremont, and the senior Earl was put into position to lead her team.

"When Mikel fouled out, the pressure hit me and I knew I had to step up and lead this team," said Earl. "We just tightened our defense and played our game."

With seven seconds remaining in overtime, Murray was put into another tough situation, trailing 56-54. Sarah Baron put up a layup that rolled off the rim, but teammate Lindsey Schoonmaker was able to grab the rebound and put it in to force another overtime.