BOMBS AWAY! Patriot 3's Sink Braves In Overtime

GLADSTONE---It was an uphill battle all night long for the Westwood High School girls basketball team as they played a non-conference game with the Gladstone Braves Tuesday night. The Patriots literally trailed the whole night, and by as many as 16 points, before unleashing a barrage of three-pointers to rally for a 57-50 victory.

It was a heartbreaking loss for Gladstone, which was playing for the first time this season with a full roster. Seniors Tasi Martinez and Leigha Woelffer played for the first time, and both made an impact throughout the game.

Woelffer scored 13 points and Martinez had an all-around solid effort (despite scoring just two points).

But in the end, it all came down to the three-point shooting of the Patriots, and the inability for the Braves to make their free throws down the stretch.

Gladstone led, 15-10, after the first quarter, and Westwood had a miserable second quarter, scoring just one point until Paige Rivard launched a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer. That three brought Westwood to within 27-14, and it was a preview of things to come for the Patriots.

The third quarter was rough for the Braves, as they managed only one Woelffer three-pointer until Taylor Hunter scored from underneath the basket late in the period. The Patriots closed to within 33-27 heading into the final eight minutes.

Every time Westwood made a run, it seemed like the Braves had the answer. But down the stretch, the Patriots caught up by making several long-range shots.

Gladstone senior Alyssa Polley sank a three of her own with less than a minute on the clock, giving her team a 46-40 lead. After a Polley free throw, the Braves led, 47-40, with 40 seconds left. That's when the three's started raining down for Westwood, with Lauren Farley launching two of them from well behind the three-point line.

Gladstone was only able to split a pair of free throws a couple of times, so the lead was only three when Rivard was left alone in the corner with 2.7 seconds left. She nailed the three-pointer, tying the game at 49-49. After a Braves time out, they worked a nice play to Hunter, but her ten-foot shot clanked off of the iron, sending the game to OT.

In overtime, the Braves, with Hunter and Hardwick both fouled out, they couldn't buy a basket. They managed only one free throw in the entire four minutes. The Patriots got just one basket themselves...a big one by Elizabeth Farley, who led all scorers with 20 points. Westwood sank six free throws in the overtime period.

Hardwick led the Braves with 14 points, while Woelffer added 13 and Polley chipped in with 12 points. Rivard had eleven points for Westwood.

Gladstone (1-5) will host Houghton next Tuesday afternoon. Game time is 2:30. The game will be broadcast live on WCHT-AM (600), and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Scott Balenger and videos taken by Nate Bellville.