By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — Hart County overcame a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes and 28 seconds to beat the Trojanettes 60-56 Friday night. After holding the Lady Raiders to just 22 points in the first three quarters, Barren was outscored 38-24 in the fourth to drop its second consecutive game.
But head coach John Butler doesn’t want to talk about the last 3:28. He’d rather discuss the first 24.
“The girls played absolutely great in the (first three quarters),” Butler said. “Hart is one of the best teams we’ve played, and we were tremendous.”
Kelsey Mitchell and Jamie Cummings were especially.
Mitchell scored 11 of Barren’s 24 first-half points and added five rebounds, while Cummings put up 12 points in the initial three quarters to lead the Trojanettes to a 32-22 lead going into the fourth quarter. That lead reached as high as 14, but in the end Barren wasn’t able to keep hold Hart’s offense back.
“I’m just disappointed for the kids. But it’s hard to win when you give up 38 points (in the fourth quarter),” Butler said.
The Trojanettes didn’t give up much early.
Neither team marked the scoreboard in the first two minutes, but four points apiece from Mitchell and Cummings helped the Trojanettes jump out to an 8-2 advantage with 1:30 to play in the period. Hart’s Katara Reynolds traded baskets with Cummings and Crista Seabolt to end the quarter with a 12-6 Trojanette lead.
A pair of Lady Raider free throws brought Hart within four at the onset of the second, but a one-woman 7-0 run by Mitchell provided the Trojanettes their first double-digit lead at 19-8 with three minutes remaining in the half. Two Seabolt free throws and a three-pointer from Katie Davis stretched the Barren advantage to 24-12 at the break.
Mitchell fell into foul trouble at the dawn of the second half, but her absence wasn’t felt thanks to Cummings, who scored six of Barren’s eight third quarter points (the additional two came courtesy of Mitchell) to preserve a double-digit lead for the Trojanettes.
That lead ballooned to 13 at the beginning of the fourth thanks to Davis’ second three-pointer of the night. Scores from Cummings and Leah Caudel preserved Barren’s advantage, giving the Trojanettes a 39-28 cushion with 6:15 remaining.
Then things began to get uncomfortable.
Hart’s Shelbie Proctor, Leah Burd and Savannah Trent combined for six unanswered points to squeeze the Barren lead to five. After a Butler timeout, two Cummings free throws and a Shelby Briggs field goal re-stretched the advantage to 10, where the lead hovered until the 3:38 mark.
And then things began to get miserable for the Trojanettes.
Hart rattled off nine straight points in just more than a minute to pull within one at 47-46. Cummings added two more free throws to distance Barren a bit, but a Burd three-pointer tied the game at 49-49 with just more than two minutes to play. At the 1:45 mark Hart grabbed its first lead of the game, and with 30 seconds remaining the Lady Raiders upped their advantage to four.
But the Trojanettes weren’t done yet.
Mary McKinney narrowly escaped a turnover with 18 ticks left by diving on a loose ball and finding Mitchell from her knees to bring Barren within two. Barren was forced to foul on the subsequent possession. Lindsey Burd made her first but clanged the second, sending both Trojanettes and Lady Raiders careening toward the ball. Cummings appeared to grab the rebound, but a called jump ball returned possession to Hart, who sealed the game with the late free throws.
Butler said the reason for Hart’s fourth-quarter explosion was simple.
“”We just couldn’t stop them. We tried zone and man. I don’t know if we stopped them even once or twice in the last quarter,” he said. “We scored enough, that wasn’t the issue.”
A large free throw disparity didn’t help. Hart attempted 36 from the stripe and made 24, while the Trojanettes were just seven of 10 on the night.
“We never got to the line,” Butler said. “But in fairness, (Hart) attacked the basket more than we did.”
Barren moved on to face Glasgow on Saturday, and will close out its regular season with games against Russell, Cumberland, Metcalfe and Clinton counties.
Losing a game in the manner of Friday’s defeat could be difficult for a team to put behind them, but Butler said moving on won’t be a problem for the Trojanettes.
“I’ve always felt like if you’re good enough to get a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter, you’re good enough to win,” he said. “I’d rather have that then lose by 25.
“We’ll be fine. Win or lose, tomorrow has nothing to do with tonight.”
