JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. – So they did.
That phrase was on a banner held by members of the Winchester girls basketball team after the fourth-ranked Golden Falcons defeated No. 6 Paoli 49-47 in overtime on Saturday to advance to the Class 2A state championship game next weekend.
“It’s crazy,” said Maddie Lawrence, who led the Golden Falcons with 24 points and 13 rebounds. “You dream about this as a kid. You can’t imagine this feeling. It’s indescribable.”
The semi-state contest came down to Winchester’s defense with five seconds remaining in the extra session.
In the final moments, Paoli’s Madison Street drove toward the basket for the last shot.
The attempt never arrived at its destination as Winchester’s Kira Robinson swatted the ball away to deny the opportunity.
“I felt amazing after the block,” Robinson said. “I thought I was about to miss it, but as soon as my hand made contact with the ball, it was a sigh of relief.”
Lawrence was there to grab the rebound as the buzzer sounded.
“As soon as grabbed it, I just went nuts,” Lawrence said. “I knew as soon as I had it, it was over. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Golden Falcons (26-2) are now set to face Central Noble (22-5) for the state title next Saturday in Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 12:45 p.m.
Central Noble defeated Frankton 52-44 to win Saturday’s other Class 2A semi-state affair at Logansport.
Slow Start
Winchester fell behind 4-0 early before Becca Chamberlin scored the first basket for the Golden Falcons at the 5:42 mark of the opening period.
The Golden Falcons eventually led 14-13 at the first stop and then 27-20 by the intermission.
As the third quarter started, that’s when Paoli showed how it made it to the semi-state as the Rams scored the first nine points of the period to take a 29-27 lead that would expand to 39-32 late in the frame.
Winchester Head Coach Holly Gutierrez praised her team’s mental toughness to weather the storm.
“That’s what kept us in the game,” Gutierrez said. “They have a lot of heart and a lot of character. That’s the reason we were able to come out on top.”
Paoli was in front 41-36 as the final quarter began.
“We didn’t talk about the score,” Gutierrez said. “We just knew we had to score.”
The Golden Falcons were able to battle back to tie it at 45-45 at the end of regulation.
The Extra Session
In the last four minutes, Lawrence would hit all of of her free throws as the Golden Falcons built a 49-45 advantage. The Rams added a basket in the final minute, but it proved to be the last score of the game.
Lawrence was the only Winchester player in double figures, but Robinson finished with nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Chamberlin tossed in eight points with Hannah Graft adding five points and four assists.
Sarah Graft had three points on a critical trey in the fourth quarter, but it was her defense that was important to the cause as she harassed Paoli’s Jacqlyn Rice, who had to fight for her team-high 18 points and 12 rebounds.
“I was a little worried that I was going to foul a few times because she would bump me and I would bump her,” Sarah said. “I just kept thinking in my head I could do it.”
Gutierrez was thrilled.
“We weren’t sure she could hang with the big girl,” Gutierrez said. “I thought they might put (Rice) down on the block. Sarah just kept it out of her hands.”
The Winchester mentor was also pleased with Ara Cowper and Brooklynn Hummel, who spent most of the season playing junior varsity.
“They came in and gave us some really good minutes,” Gutierrez said.
Keaton Chastain had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Rams (24-6)