Corn Bible Holds off Balko to Advance to Final

The Lady Crusaders weathered a 3-point storm from the Lady Bison to stay alive in the tournament.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 6:09 pm

By: News On 6

Corn Bible Holds off Balko to Advance to Final

Originally Published: Mar 4, 2011 6:9 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- For the second consecutive day, Corn Bible Academy held off a late-game comeback attempt, topping the Balko Lady Bison 52-47 Friday to advance to the Class B Girl’s Championship.

The Lady Crusaders held a 40-35 lead to start the final eight minutes but in the opening moments of the quarter, Taylor Smith took over. The junior forward scored eight consecutive points for CBA, accounting for all of an 8-1 run to push the lead to 48-36.

Balko answered from the perimeter, knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers – two from senior Monica Bennett – to close the deficit to 50-45. Bennett added a long two and closed the gap to a single possession with 90 seconds left on the clock.

The Lady Bison, who were in the double bonus for the closing minutes of the game, turned the game into a free throw shooting contest. Corn Bible missed six consecutive free throws to leave the door open, but Balko was unable to hit on any of its three game-tying 3-point attempts.

In the closing seconds of the game, CBA senior Ellie Troyer converted on a pair of free throws to extend the advantage to 52-47. Balko attempted a last-second three-pointer, but Lady Crusader senior Emily Dick blocked Jaylee Mays’ attempt to end the game.

Mays led all scorers with 18 points – including nine from behind the arc – with Madison Dearmin adding 10 points.

Corn Bible was led by Dick, who scored 15, while Smith contributed 14 points and Jessica Penner adding 12.

The Lady Crusaders now face the task of taking on the undefeated Hammon Lady Warriors in the Class B Final at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.