NORTH MANCHESTER - Scoring the game-winning point is every kid's dream. Friday night Whitko's Amanda Allender did just that, as the Lady Wildcats visited Manchester in a Three Rivers Conference battle.
With the game tied after teammate Emily Bidwell hit a three-pointer, Allender hit one of two free throws with six seconds left to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 49-48 victory."I wish I could think of a word to describe how I felt about the girls tonight," said Whitko coach Rob Bell. "I am very proud of the way they didn't give up. We had some of the younger girls step up tonight when we needed them too."
Bidwell went to the bench late in the first quarter after picking up four quick fouls. This prompted Bell to voice his opinion to the officials and receive a technical foul.
With Manchester leading 43-35 with 4:09 left in the game, Ashley Hoopingarner took advantage of a three-point play to cut the lead to 43-38.
A three-point basket by Manchester's Noelle Patrick with 3:38 left put Manchester back up by six at 46-40.
Allender hit a three-point basket with 1:01 left in the game to cut the lead to three. Manchester then turned the ball over, giving the Wildcats the ball back, setting up Bidwell's tying three-pointer.
"I told Emily to be patient, that she would hit a big shot for us tonight," said Bell.
Bidwell, who finished the game with nine points, came off the bench midway through the fourth quarter. She scored five points in the quarter and led the team with seven rebounds.
"It is not a good feeling when you think you have the game won and it slips away from you," said Manchester coach Mark Underwood. "We just had too many unforced turnovers tonight."
Manchester finished the game with 17 turnovers and 8-of-18 shooting from the free throw line.
Manchester started the game with a 7-0 run. The Lady Squires finished the quarter with 17-9 lead.
"I was proud of the way we played in the first quarter," said Underwood. "The girls played with a lot of energy and took control of the game early."
Hoopingarner led the Wildcats with 15 points, including a 9-of-10 effort from the free throw line in the second quarter to keep the Wildcats within eight, 27-29, at the half 27-19.
She also finished the game three steals and five rebounds.
"We didn't shoot very well from the free throw line very well early in the game," said Bell. "Ashley did a nice job in the second. We have a young team, and with the senior leadership we pulled together. We always talk about Wildcat Pride, and tonight it showed."
Manchester's Katie Bowers fouled out of the game midway through the fourth quarter. She finished with 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
"When Katie fouled out we lost our best player and their's came in," said Underwood. "It wasn't a good trade off. Katie gives us some great leadership and we missed her."
Manchester's Jessica Bedke led all players with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. She also had three rebounds. Noelle Patrick contributed with 11 points, including a 3-of-3 effort from the three-point arc.
Allender contributed 14 points for Whitko, including the winning free throw. She also pulled down five rebounds. Katee Reiff added six points and two steals and Rachelle Kessie had five points and six rebounds.
"We just had some of our younger players step up tonight when we needed them to," said Bell. "Amanda had a very nice game for us when we needed the scoring with Bidwell on the bench. Rachelle also did a nice job in the middle."
Whitko improved its record to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in the TRC. This was the first time since the seasons of 1994-95 and 1995-96 that Whitko has beaten Manchester in two straight years.
"The girls did a nice job and and we just came up short," said Underwood. "We will learn from this game and continue to improve. We are not giving up up on them by any means."
Manchester dropped to 3-4 on the season and 0-2 in conference action.
