Lady Satellites’ Season Ends In Overtime Thriller
The two teams would come out, as expected, with high levels of energy, with a surprising amount of control, as some may have expected nerves to play a much bigger factor early in the game. Both teams would be very balanced in their first quarter scoring output. South Central’s starting lineup of Faith Biggs, Amber Wolf, Olivia Marks, Delanie Gale, and Abbie Tomblin, would account for all of the Lady Satellites first quarter points, while the Eagles’ Ava Gardner, Addie Gardner, and Bailey Tucker would handle the first quarter scoring for Frankton. At the end of the first eight minutes, the score would be knotted at 14-14, with control of the game going back and forth at a pretty steady rate.
The second quarter would see the Lady Eagles take a little bit more control, but in no way did it feel like they were running away with the game, by any means. Delanie Gale and Abbie Tomblin would take hold of the reins, scoring wise, for the Lady Satellites as they each would chip in 8 points in the first half. In perhaps the biggest shock of the first half, South Central leading scorer, and Depauw University recruit, Amber Wolf was held to just 2 points in the first half, as Frankton was making a concerted effort to limit Wolf’s touches. As the buzzer sounded to end the first half, the Lady Satellites found themselves trailing by 6 as they headed into the locker room, having been outscored 16-10 in the second quarter, to trail 30-24.
The third quarter would see Wolf begin to come alive in the scoring column. While not forcing anything, Amber was able to attack the basket with a little more consistency. The 6’0 Senior would put in 6 points in the third quarter, but the Lady Eagles would still hold the edge at the end of the third quarter, as they outscored the Lady Satellites 14-13, to give them a 44-37 lead going into the 4th quarter. A wild back-and-forth between the two teams would lead to a very entertaining 4th quarter, with Wolf continuing to pick up momentum, scoring another 8 points in the final quarter of regulation. The Lady Satellites would head into the overtime period with Wolf, Olivia Marks, Delanie Gale, and Abbie Tomblin, all in double figures scoring. As far as moment went, it was still very much up for grabs as the two teams began the overtime period.
In the four minute overtime period, it was clear that the crowd was hold its collective breath with each possession, hoping their respective team would find a way to get one more point than their opponent in the extra time. In the end, it would be the heroics of Franklin Junior Ava Gardner, that would tip the scales in favor of Frankton, as the Lady Eagles would outscore the Lady Satellites 7-6 in overtime to get a thrilling 62-61 win. Gardner’s effort which included a game-high 29 points, to go along with 3 steals, 3 rebounds, and 6-15 from behind the 3-point line, would earn her the Ashley Derrickson/Five Star Player of the Game honors on WKVI.
The Lady Satellites end their season with an overall record of 21-8, which included a 2nd place finish in the Porter County Conference regular season, with a conference record of 6-1. This season also saw the Lady Satellites win the program’s 3rd Sectional Championship, as well as their 2nd Regional Championship. This year’s Sectional and Regional titles would be the first for the program in class 2A.
While South Central will be hit with major losses due to the graduation of Seniors Faith Biggs, Lexy Wade, and Amber Wolf, the cupboard is far from bare in Union Mills. The Lady Satellites will have an incredible core of returners next season, with a truckload of experience. While the sting of losing at the Semi-State level may never go away, for Biggs, Wade, and Wolf, they will be able to go into their post-high school lives knowing they made the footprints for future Lady Satellite basketball players, as they were major parts of the historic success of the Lady Satellites’ program at the 2A level. While no fan, coach, or administrator could contemplate ever being able to replace a trio of Seniors like South Central had this year, there is comfort in knowing the example they set for their teammates and community will last much longer than an offseason. With the countless elementary and middle school aged young ladies watching every move of Biggs, Wade, and Wolf over the course of the last four years, it is not too hard to imagine that a group of future State Champions will one day be saying on the “Salute To The Champions” segment on WKVI, “We remember watching Faith, Lexy, and Amber”.
Game Statistics
Scoring
Frankton(62): Chloee Thomas-8, Ava Gardner-29, Bailee Webb-1, Lauryn Bates-11, Addie Gardner-7, Bailey Tucker-4, Cagney Utterback-2
South Central(61): Faith Biggs-7, Amber Wolf-18, Olivia Marks-11, Delanie Gale-13, Abbie Tomblin-12
Made 3-Point Shots
Frankton(10): Ava Gardner-6, Lauryn Bates-3, Addie Gardner-1
South Central(8): Faith Biggs-2, Olivia Marks-1, Delanie Gale-3, Abbie Tomblin-2
Free Throw Shooting
Frankton: 6-9 66%
South Central: 5-13 38%
Rebounding
South Central(42): Faith Biggs-7, Amber Wolf-12, Olivia Marks-13, Delanie Gale-2, Abbie Tomblin-7
Frankton(34): Grace Alexander-9, Chloee Thomas-6, Ava Gardner-3, Bailee Webb-2, Lauryn Bates-7, Addie Gardner-1, Bailey Tucker-5, Cagney Utterback-1
Steals
South Central(6): Faith Biggs-1, Amber Wolf-1, Olivia Marks-1, Delanie Gale-1, Abbie Tomblin-2
Frankton(4): Ava Gardner-3, Lauryn Bates-1
Assists
Frankton(15): Grace Alexander-2, Chloee Thomas-1, Bailee Webb-1, Lauryn Bates-4, Addie Gardner-5, Cagney Utterback-2
South Central(14): Faith Biggs-5, Amber Wolf-2, Olivia Marks-2, Delanie Gale-1, Abbie Tomblin-4
*Statistics In This Article Provided By Logansport High School*
*Photos Brought To You By Momma’s Pizzeria In Downtown Knox*