Central Heights downs Trojans 47-36

The Osawatomie Trojan Girls Basketball Team hung tough with the Central Heights Vikings, but couldn’t quite get over the hump, as they dropped an eleven point 47-36 loss at Central Heights Tuesday night.

The Trojans kept the game close through the first quarter, after falling behind to open the game, Osawatomie tied the game three times, twice on Kortney Bailey baskets and a Rebecca Fisher basket. The Vikings took the lead again on two free throws by Elli Ouellette, and Fisher cut the lead back to one with a free throw before Shelby Droddy closed the scoring in the first quarter with two free throw to give the Vikings a 10-7 lead.

Central Heights jumped to a five point lead on a Marissa Cox field goal, but the Trojans grabbed their first lead of the game on two baskets by Bailey and another by Rachel Fisher. The Vikings re-took the lead on a basket and a free throw by Ouellette before Bailey tied the game again at 15-15. Rebecca Fisher gave the Trojans a three point lead at 18-15 before Cox hit a basket and a free throw to tie the score at 18-18 as the teams went to the locker room at half time.

The Trojans jumped to a quick three point lead on the strength of a Booe three pointer to open the second half, but the Vikings tied the game and took a two point lead on a basket by Karly Schulte, a free throw by Ouellette and a basket by Droddy off a steal off the inbounds pass. The steal and basket gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead and prompted a Trojan time out with 3:32 to play in the quarter. The Trojans got the game tied the game for the last time, on two free throws by Bailey, but the Vikings opened a five point lead on two baskets and a free throw by Cox. The lead jumped to seven on a basket by Katelin Horstick before Janzen Maring stopped the run with a free throw. The third quarter came to an end with Droddy hitting a free throw and the Vikings took a seven point 31-24 lead to the fourth quarter.

The Vikings had opportunities to blow the game wide open as they spent lots of time at the free throw line in the final period, hitting only 50% from the line early in the period, as Cox, Ouellette, Casey Droddy and Shelby Droddy hit one of two free throws each, and Cox and Casey Droddy each hit baskets around a basket and free throw by Bailey and the Viking lead had ballooned to 13 points at 40-27.

Rachel Fisher hit a free throw and Ouellette hit a basket and the Viking lead was 14 at 42-28. The Trojans called time out with 1:58 to play in the game and after Schulte missed two free throws, Rebecca Fisher hit a basket to cut the lead to 12 at 42-30. After a Trojan time out with 1:25 to play the Vikings Megan Oestreicher hit three of four free throws and the lead was 15 at 45-30. Booe knocked in a three pointer to cut the lead to 12 at 45-33 before Casey Droddy hit two free throws to bump the lead to 14 at 47-33. Haley Madden missed two free throws for the Trojans and Maring hit a three point play to close out the scoring for the Trojans and the game to make the final score 47-36.

The final margin could have been worse, as the Vikings managed to shoot less than 55% from the free throw line, hitting an unofficial 19 of 35 attempts, the Trojans on the other hand went to the line only 15 times, hitting eight of those attempts.

The Trojans will return to action Friday night, February 6, 2009 as they host Anderson County.