Crestview trips up Wayne Trace 43-37

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

HAVILAND — Crestview built up a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, then withstood a furious Wayne Trace rally and went on to win 43-37 in girls’ non-conference basketball at The Palace on Monday.

The win by the Lady Knights (12-9) snapped an 11-game winning streak by Wayne Trace (17-4).

“What a game tonight by two really good teams in Raiderland,” Crestview head coach Mark Gregory said. “I appreciate the atmosphere and just how hard both teams played. It’s probably the best we’ve played all year – we put everything together and I’m so proud of our kids.”

“We took care of the basketball, we rebounded and we made the shots we needed to,” Gregory added.

Leading 30-26 to begin the final period, Crestview’s Raegan Hammons hit two big baskets, then Laci McCoy scored to make it 36-26. After Wayne Trace’s Claire Sinn whistled in a three pointer, McCoy converted a pair of foul shots to reestablish a 10-point lead, 39-29, with 5:05 left. It would be the final time Crestview would score until the 16 second mark.

Rachel Stoller banked in a trey, then Gracie Shepherd turned an offensive rebound into a basket to pull Wayne Trace within five, 39-34. A right corner triple by Katrina Stoller made it a 39-37 game with 1:13 remaining, but the Lady Raiders were unable to score again.

After a pair of off-target shots and two fouls by Wayne Trace, Crestview’s Bailey Gregory calmly hit two foul shots with 16.4 seconds left, then Lexi Gregory iced the game with a two free throws with 5.8 seconds on the clock.

“I knew they were going to come back, they’re a great team,” Gregory said. “They came back and made a run, made it close and I thought it was huge for Bailey to hit those foul shots to put us up four.”

Crestview finished the game 11-13 from the foul line, while Wayne Trace was 0-1.

The first half was a defensive struggle. Claire Sinn scored four of Wayne Trace’s eight first quarter points, while Kylie Etzler and Olivia Cunningham combined for all nine of Crestview’s points in the opening period and at halftime, the game deadlocked 15-15.

“The defenses were so scrappy and that’s what you want at this time of the year,” Gregory said.

Wayne Trace took a 21-18 lead early in the third quarter, but an offensive rebound and basket by McCoy and a bucket and a free throw by Cunningham put Crestview ahead 23-21. Another McCoy basket and one by Hammons later increased the lead to 27-21, but Katie Stoller put in a trey and Claire Sinn scored with 50 seconds left in the period.

Cunningham led Crestview with 15 points, while McCoy added 11, with nine of those coming in the second half. Claire Sinn led Wayne Trace with 15 and Gracie Shepherd tallied eight.

Wayne Trace will end the regular season at Hicksville on Thursday, while Crestview will do the same at Paulding the same night.

“I love the fact that we’re going to play at Paulding then turn around and play there for the tournament,” Gregory said. “I think it’s great for our girls and our confidence.”

“Paulding’s been solid all year long, they’re well coached and they have guards, posts, they have everything, so we’re going to get back to the lab and see how we need to play them,” the coach added.
Scoring summary

Wayne Trace 8 7 11 11 – 37
Crestview 9 6 15 13 – 43

Wayne Trace: Claire Sinn 7-0-15; Katie Stoller 1-0-3; Miriam Sinn 1-0-2; Gracie Shepherd 4-0-8; Christina Graham 1-0-3; Katrina Sinn 1-0-3; Rachel Stoller 1-0-3

Crestview: Bailey Gregory 1-1-4; Kylie Etzler 1-2-5; Lexi Gregory 0-2-2; Laci McCoy 4-3-11; Raegan Hammons 3-0-6; Olivia Cunningham 5-2-15

JV: Crestview 32-19