ENGLEWOOD -The Lady Chiefs had
the Chargerettes right where they wanted
them. Unfortunately for Sequoyah,
McMinn Central converted in the closing
seconds to beat Sequoyah in overtime,
68-65.
"We wanted to show them we could
play on their level. I think we did that,
and I am very proud of our girls," said
Sequoyah head coach Eddie Gambrelle.

In the closing seconds of the game,
the Lady Chiefs were at the free throw
line with a chance to take the lead,
despite a 39-point, 18-rebound effort
from Central's Elizabeth Masengil, but
missed all three attempts, allowing the
Chargerettes to escape with a 68-65 win.

Central coach Johnny Morgan knew
how lucky they were to come out on top.
“We were lucky tonight and fortunate
that Elizabeth had the kind of game she
did,” said Morgan." That's not something
you want to count on as the foundation
to a successful season."

Masengil tossed in 11 points and
Peyton Williams drained a treyќ to give
Central a 14-13 lead after one period.
The Chargerettes fell behind, 21-15,
before Sidni Williams and Kelsey Young
nailed three-pointers and Masengil
added five points as Central regained the
intermission advantage, 32-30.

Despite treys from Masengil and
Peyton Williams, the Lady Chiefs took a
47-43 lead into the fourth period.
With scoring from Masengil,
Young and Elizabeth Trentham, the
Chargerettes went on a 13-5 run to go in
front, 56-52, with less than a minute to
play.

Hunter Simpson was dominate
for the Lady Chiefs, scoring 28 points.
Chancey Welshan netted 14 and Savana
Atchley had 10 to reach double digits.
Down by four with 33 seconds to play,
a Simpson steal and basket made the
contest a two-point game. Two missed
free throws and another turnover allowed
Sequoyah to knot the game at 56 and
Sequoyah's leading scorer, Simpson, at
the line to try and complete a three-point
play with 17 seconds to play.

Simpson missed and Central also
failed on two shots at the buzzer, sending
the game to overtime.

The teams traded buckets in the extra
session. Emily Ingram knocked in a huge
trey with 23 seconds to go, but Central
answered as Trentham gave them the
lead 66-65, with 17 seconds to play.
Ingram had five points on the night
while Daneille Slack added six, and
Laura Whited had two.

Sequoyah drew a foul with three seconds
to play, but missed both attempts
and Masengil was fouled on the rebound,
providing the game's final two points.
Williams added nine points to the
38-point effort by Masengil.

Simpson led three Lady Chiefs in
double figures with 28.
Neither team excelled at the free throw
line with Central converting 19 of 34
attempts and Sequoyah 21 of 35.


The Daily Post-Athenian Sports Editor
Jack Slayton contributed to this report.