WATERTOWN – The FM Lady Raiders took on a very good Jefferson CC team on Sunday afternoon. The Lady Cannoneers had lost only one game this season, and that was to #2-nationally ranked Mohawk Valley. The Jefferson squad is tall, fast, and talented, but the Lady Raiders took them into two overtime periods and won the game.
Photo: Kassandra Flowers drives and brings FM within three points at 14-11
Lady Raiders Kassandra Flowers and Monae Abrams scored the first points of the game, and FM led 3-0. Jefferson's Lady Cannoneers came back and took the lead in the closely-played contest. After shots by Flowers and Stephanie Rice rimmed out, Jefferson led 9-5.
Sherice Gayle's field goal brought FM within two points of the lead in the intense first half, but Jefferson's offense kept clicking. Flowers' tally brought FM within three points. Taylor Wetsky's put-back brought FM within four, but Jefferson continued to score.
Erica Redwood took a nice inbounds pass from Rice and closed the score to 22-16. Jessica Woney's field goal made it 24-18. Flowers forwarded the ball to Rice, who scored, making it 24-20. Jefferson scored two, but Flowers' baseline drive brought FM back to 26-22. Finally, with 3:58 left in the half, Redwood got a nice pass from Flowers and tied the game at 26-26.
Photo: Jess Woney shoots
Kendra Jordan sank a long two, and FM led 28-26. Both teams kept scoring. Flowers sank two threes, the second of which was stellar. With 54.2 on the clock, she recovered a loose ball in the right corner, spun, shot, and scored the three. Jefferson countered with a three. Flowers drove for two, beginning outside the arc, and FM went into the break with a 36-32 lead.
Jefferson scored the first points of the second half. FM had a bit of a cold spell, and the Cannoneers went ahead 48-44 and 52-48. Gayle tallied twice from the floor, and with 9:04 left, the score was 52-52.
The home team went back out in front, and kept a small lead for most of the remaining regulation time. Abrams scored again, and FM trailed 72-69 with 24.2 seconds showing on the clock. Rice fed Gayle; Gayle scored, and it was 72-71 with 15.9 left.
Jefferson went to the foul line, sank both FTs, and led 74-71 with 13.7 to play. Then Flowers made a career-highlight play.
Flowers got the ball in the left corner, put up a beautiful shot, and watched it sail cleanly through the basket for three points. The game was tied at 74-all, and the scoreboard showed no time remaining. The teams prepared for overtime.
Photo: Stephanie Rice brings FM within four points, at 24-20
FM tallied, but Jefferson jumped out to an 80-76 lead. Flowers, who'd had a huge game, fouled out. The Cannoneers scored two more. 82-76. Then Abrams, who'd also been a hugely important factor for FM, stepped up. Abrams scored a field goal and then drained two free throws. Jefferson led 82-80. Gayle scored from in close, and the game was tied 82-all. The overtime period ended, and the teams got ready for a second five minutes of extra play.
Woney passed to Gayle in the paint, and Gayle scored. 84-82 FM. Abrams fought through traffic and put the ball through the hoop, but was tied up in the process and a jump ball was called. No basket.
Gayle sank two FTs. 86-82. Abrams scored again. 88-84. Abrams sank a free throw. 89-84. Erica Redwood sank a free throw with half a minute left. 90-84. Abrams scored from close in. Finally, Veronica Chea tallied a three-point play with 10.2 seconds left, and the scoring was complete.
FM had won the memorable contest 95-84. It had been a long, intense, and grand game. Later, Head Coach Kevin Jones said that it was probably the most exciting game he had ever coached.
The 5-2 Lady Raiders' next game will be at home vs. Schenectady CCC at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Click here for video highlights.
Scoring:
FM: Jordan 2, Chea 5, Flowers 21, Rice 15, Woney 5, Abrams 25, Wetsky 2, Erica Redwood 6, Gayle 14; Total 95
Jefferson: Canady 25, Marshall 6, Waterman 4, Roberts 11, Coloney 8, Crosby 30; Total 84
Records: FM 5-2, Jefferson 5-2
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