West Frankfort relied heavily upon the inside presence of senior post Amy Bymaster and out battled the visiting Lady Bulldogs Monday night at Max Morris Gymnasium in a furious fourth quarter that featured 10 lead changes, topping Carmi 41-38.
Like a pair or prize fighters feeling one another out, both teams ran deliberate offensive sets, testing the opposing defenses during a low scoring first quarter during which the Redbirds emerged with an 8-4 lead.
Senior guard Sarah White entered the game at the onset of the second quarter, providing an immediate offensive spark by knocking down a pair of long triples, but Carmi's bruising brand of defense kept the game close, as the teams entered the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 15.
Led by Bymaster and senior guard Genni Hickey the Redbirds reeled off an 11-4 run to start the third quarter, prompting a Lady Bulldog timeout at the 1-minute mark with West Frankfort holding a 26-19 advantage. Apparently head coach Eric Dixon's words inspired his team, as Carmi knocked down back-to-back buckets, one a three-pointer from senior guard Kaitlyn Weaver, to pull within a pair at the onset of the fourth, 26-24.
Weaver knocked down a long three at the 7:40 mark in the fourth to give the Lady Bulldogs their first lead of the game, before sophomore Jasmine Chromchak answered for the Lady Redbirds with a jumper of her own. The teams continued to exchange buckets and the lead before Hickey found senior Gena Jones inside at the 1:24 mark to knot the score at 38. Hickey came up with a steal near midcourt on the ensuing Carmi possession, signaling for a Lady Redbird timeout. After the inbounds pass, Bymaster was fouled, connecting on one of two free throw attempts to push the Lady Redbirds out front 39-38. After a Lady Bulldog timeout, senior guard Shauna Whitley's three-point attempt was partially blocked, and the Redbirds collected the rebound. Carmi fouled Chromchak, sending her to the line with just 23 ticks remaining on the clock and a chance to seal the game. Chromchak converted the front end of the one-and-one, but the Redbirds were called for a lane violation, the bucket was erased, and the Lady Bulldogs were given the basketball and another chance to steal the victory. But Whitley's long-range attempt once again fell short, and West Frankfort collected the ball, before Hickey was sent to the line with .05 seconds remaining and sank a pair of crucial freebies. Whitley's half-court buzzer beater attempt fell short, and the Lady Redbirds emerged victorious.
Bymaster and Hickey led the Redbirds with 10 points apiece, while Chromchak and White each pitched in six, Jones five and sophomore Kaitlyn Glodich 4. Whitley led all scorers with 13.
WF: 8 15 26 41
Carmi: 4 15 24 38
FCHS: Glodich: 2 0 0 0 4, Bymaster: 4 0 4 2 10, Hickey: 4 0 2 2 10, Jones: 1 1 0 0 5, Chromchak: 3 0 1 0 6, White: 0 2 0 0 6.
In junior varsity action, the Redbirds fell 28-19.
FCHS: Hood: 0 1 0 0 3, Twist 1 0 0 0 2, Bromley: 1 0 0 0 2, Holland: 2 0 6 1 6, Bender: 1 0 0 0 2, Fry: 2 0 0 0 4.
