Photo by TRAVIS DAVID | Sullivan junior Ally McKinney glides through the air for a layup in the first half of Tuesday's game against county rival North Central. McKinney scored eight points in the Arrows' win.

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BY TRAVIS DAVID

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FARMERSBURG — Jacie Wilson will be the first to admit free-throw shooting is not the near the strongest part of her game. But the Sullivan senior put all of that aside with the game on the line Tuesday night.

Wilson calmly sank a pair of freebies with just under five seconds remaining to break a tie with Class 1A No. 2 North Central. The free-throws were the difference as the Lady Arrows completed their comeback with a 57-56 win.

With the victory — the third straight in the series — Sullivan improved to 11-6 on the season while the Ladybirds fell to 15-3.

Although Wilson stepped to the line and sank both shots like a free-throw shooting champion, the senior admitted it was not easy.

“I was really nervous,” Wilson said of stepping to the line in the tie ballgame. “I knew that I needed to hit them for my team to help us win the game. When the first one went in it helped with the second one … it just felt really good to hit them both.”

Prior to being awarded the free throws, Wilson was fouled after pulling down her 14th rebound of the game.

But the game was not yet over.

Out of timeouts, North Central raced down the court and coaxed a foul on the Arrows with nine-tenths-of-a-second remaining.

After the first freebie was good, the second shot clanked off the rim and fell into the arms of Wilson as time expired.

North Central finished the game 8 of 13 from the charity stripe.

“One missed free throw at the beginning of the game or at the end of the game is not what lost this game for us,” Ladybirds coach Joey Davidson said. “We have some things that we need to be better at doing. But I also want to say that I am happy for Jacie, she is going through a lot right now and is a great kid. She is a difference maker for them. 

“Also, Vance (Edmondson) and his staff did a great job tonight.”

Wilson was not the only hero of the game.

Trailing 53-52 in the final minute, Avari Kelley took a pass from Ally McKinney and connected on a three  from the wing. The shot — her only field goal of the night — came with 44 seconds left.

Sullivan appeared to be in the drivers’ seat after coming away with a defensive rebound on the Ladybirds’ next possession. But Shelby Seay had other plans.

Seay ripped the ball free from the Arrows and was fouled on the play. The North Central junior swished home both free throws with 15 seconds remaining on the clock.

Seay finished with 20 points in the loss.

Despite playing for the first time in 10 days, the North Central offense started out blazing hot from the field. The Ladybirds connected on 8 of 10 shots from the floor in the opening eight minutes of play for a 20-16 lead. Half of the shots made came from distance.

“It was good to see the ball go through the hoop like that,” Davidson said of the first-quarter shooting.

Back-to-back drives by Katherine Sarver and McKinney pulled Sullivan even within the first 63 seconds of the second period. 

Seay answered with back-to-back triples for a 6-point cushion. 

North Central carried a 32-29 lead into the break.

Wilson pulled the Arrows even twice in the third period before a pair of free throws by Jalyn Davidson gave the hosts a 42-40 lead heading into the final eight minutes of play.

A three from McKinney pulled the Arrows even once again at 48 with just over five minutes to play.

Davidson broke the tie with a triple from the wing before Seay followed with a drive and a 5-point lead with four minutes on the clock.

Sarver started the Arrows’ final 9-3 spurt with a drive. The shifty junior guard finished with 13 points in the win.

Despite not being 100 percent healthy, Sullivan talented freshman Rigley Goodman connected on four shots from distance to add 12 points in the win. But it was a hustle play from Goodman that may have turned the tide late in the game. After a missed shot, the pesky guard forced a tie-up with the possession arrow in the favor of Sullivan. The extra possession was finished with Kelley’s go-ahead three.

“That was a big play for us,” Edmondson said of his freshman. “But that’s just who she is. She never gives up on a play.”

McKinney finished with eight points and nine rebounds while Destiny Gaines came up big on the defensive end with three blocked shots.

“Destiny has provided us with that boost of energy on the defensive side of the court all season,” the Lady Arrows’ coach said of his reserve player. “We know she is not going to be a big scorer for us, but we know what she brings to the table and that is a ton of energy, rebounds and just gritty defense.”

Davidson finished with a game-high 22 points in the loss while Sam Secrest added nine points.

Sullivan (11-6) plays host to West Vigo Friday night while North Central (15-3) remains at home on Saturday against Martinsville (Ill.). 

Thanks to Legacy Seed Solution for the sponsorship of this story