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HOLLAND - Overtime appeared imminent when Hatboro-Horsham senior Kate Romano scored on a drive that knotted the score 35-35 with eight seconds remaining in Saturday’s game against Bensalem.
The Owls apparently had other ideas.
After a timeout, point guard Alexia Ewing dribbled the length of the court, and when she was met by a throng of defenders in the paint, the Owls’ diminutive guard dished the ball to a wide open Tyra Roberts for a bucket at the buzzer, giving the Owls the dramatic 37-35 win.
The wide-eyed freshman - who has been playing basketball only two years - wore an expression of stunned disbelief as she was mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winner, and the celebration began.
Ewing explained the designed play.
“During the timeout, they said, ‘Get the ball to a guard, take it the whole length of the court, and put it up,’” the Owls' speed point guard said. “They had a lot of pressure, so I dribbled through them.
“I was going to go for it, but the big girl was there, so I saw Tyra there and passed it to her. It looked like it was in slow motion, but it felt really good.”
With points difficult to come by, it looked as though the Owls might be in trouble when the Hatters went on top 31-27 after a three-point play by Romano with 3:14 remaining in regulation.
“We started talking to each other more and picking each other up,” Ewing said. “We started listening to our coaches, doing what they told us to do – hustling and taking care of the ball.
“In the beginning of the season, it was hard because we barely played together, we had barely played varsity. Now we’re starting to come together and playing as a team.”
The Owls’ comeback began when Ewing buried a pair from the foul line, and the two teams were deadlocked after Roberts turned a Ewing pass into an easy bucket.
When Jody Sokol converted a three-point play, the Owls led 34-31, and that lead grew to 35-31 after Roberts – who led the Owls with 11 points - sank one-of-two from the charity stripe with 50 seconds remaining.
The Hatters came roaring back.
Alicia Hayes, who finished with 10 points, connected on a pair from the foul line, and after Kelsey Koelzer came up with a steal, Romano – who had a game-high 15 points – scored on a drive to knot the score, setting the stage for the late-game heroics of Ewing and Roberts.
“My little point guard had a great game today,” Bensalem coach Don Bogan said of Ewing. “She’s been playing good the last week and a half. All the kids have been great the last week and a half.
“We had a big win over Academy Park on Thursday (48-41). The girls needed a win. We play in a very tough league. We have been playing better, and we’re growing every day. They work hard every day. They come to practice with smiles on their faces.
“This was a big win.”
On the other side of the court, the Hatters – who were without Cailin Schmeer (injury) – were left to deal with another heartbreaking loss.
“As well as we played in the summer, we have taken 10 gigantic steps backwards,” coach Eric Glemser said. “We just do not have consistent scoring. Teams just pack it in against us.”
BENSALEM 37, HATBORO-HORSHAM 35
Bensalem (37) – Ashida Cooper 0 2-5 2; Alexia Ewing 1 2-3 4; Alexis Nyekan 1 0-1 2; Jody Sokol 3 1-1 8; Ashleigh Spence 2 2-4 6; Jenny Nolan 0 0-0 0; Tyra Roberts 5 1-2 11; Maxie Dixon 1 2-2 4. TOTALS 13 10-18 37.
Hatboro-Horsham (35) – Emily Marvin 0 0-0 0; Lindsey Day 2 0-0 5; Kelsey Koelzer 0 0-0 0; Alicia Hayes 3 3-4 10; Carly Bixler 2 0-0 5; Chrissy James 0 0-1 0; Katie Romano 3 9-10 15. TOTALS 10 12-15 35.
Bensalem 13 6 6 12-37
Hatboro-Horsham 7 9 8 10-35
3-point goals: Bensalem – Sokol. Hatboro – Day, Hayes.
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