COLUMBUS — The Columbus High School girl’s basketball team faced off against Tidehaven High School Jan. 27 at the Mar ley Giddens Center in Columbus and survived an overtime nail biter by a final score of 58-53.
Columbus had a double- digit lead to start the game, but Tidehaven hung tough throughout the second half by making contested shots and long range jumpers. The Lady Cardinals were able to withstand the big run my making important baskets in crunch time.
"Their first half, they re ally shot the ball well,” said Columbus head girl’s basketball coach Mike Albers.
“Especially the three point line. I thought we should’ve had a bigger lead at halftime than we did. We probably made too many turnovers, but at the same time, we came back in the second half and played really good defense late in the game. Got some steals and caused some things to happen that we didn’t early in the game. Made enough plays on offense to pull it out. Definitely a big win for us and any time we play a team as good as Tidehaven, no doubt, that helps you prepare for the next tough one. Hopefully that will get us ready for Friday and beyond.”
Columbus forward Thea Schobel put points on the board throughout the game and had some big baskets late in the game when it mattered most.
“I always work on my short shots,” Schobel said.
“Especially when I’m at home, so in the game I can succeed.”
Columbus had a 2112 lead to start the second quarter and kept a similar lead for most of the quarter until Tidehaven went on a scoring spree to end the half with a jumper, a fast break layup, a free throw, a three-pointer, and an and one basket at the 17 second mark to make it 31-28 in fa vor of Columbus going into halftime.
Both teams went back and forth early in the third quarter, then Tidehaven gained a small lead 37-33 with a jumper inside the free throw line at about the 3:50 mark. Columbus responded with a free throw from guard Candee Pitchford, a free throw, and a buzzer-beating layup from guard Jada Brown on a full court pass with one second on the clock to get within one of Tidehaven at the end of the third quarter with a 40-39 scoreboard.
The two teams traded punches again to start the fourth quarter, which was followed by an and one basket from Lady Cardinals guard Anaya Gardner with 4:43 to go to tie it at 45.
Tidehaven went on to make an and one basket of their own at the 23 second mark on an inbound play to take a 51-49 lead, then Co lumbus drove right down the court after two missed free throws from Tidehaven and made a layup in the final seconds to force over -
time at 51-51.
Columbus controlled the majority of overtime with an and one basket from Schobel at the 3:21 mark to make it 54-51, which was answered by a fast break layup from the Lady Tigers about a minute later to put it at 54-53.
Columbus went on to draw fouls in the final two minutes and cashed in on their free throws, sealing it with one free throw at the six second mark from Pitchford to win it 58-53.
