G-H/V girls pull off nail-biters

The odds were in their favor last week, as the Garner-Hayfield/Ventura girls basketball team picked up two very close wins.

G-H/V 34, Osage 32

It was close contest all the way through the game, as the Cardinals topped Osage 34-32 on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The game came down to the final :45 seconds.  Leading by one point, the Cardinals executed one of their sideline out of bounds plays and Bri Bier dished to Mackenzie Haag for a wide open layup.  The Green Devils answered that shot.  Bier than knocked down one of two free throw attempts and a huge rebound from Tiara Van Gerpen sealed the Cardinal win.

“This was a very big conference win for us against a pretty darned good Osage team,” said Coach Matt Erpelding.

The team welcomed back its leading scorer, Maddie Tusha, who had been out with an ankle injury the last few games.  Tusha came back strong, leading the team with 10 points.  She also led under the boards with 13 rebounds to go with her four steals, two assists and one blocked shot.

Not far behind her was Shelby Rayhons and Bier with seven points apiece.  Rounding out the scoring was Haag and Van Gerpen with four points apiece and Grace Tusha contributed two points.

Bier and Haag also had good nights under the boards, collecting eight and seven rebounds respectively.  Rayhons and Van Gerpen each had four rebounds.  The Cardinals out-rebounded Osage, 49-32.

Bier led the team in assists with four.  She also had one steal and one blocked shot.

G-H/V 46, Central Springs 45

It was another nail biter for G-H/V as the game went down to the wire again on Thursday, Dec. 13, when the Cardinals hosted Central Springs.

The scoring was very evenly distributed between the two teams, with five points being the largest lead in the game.  G-H/V managed a slight 22-19 lead going into halftime.  The Cardinals trailed by five with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.  G-H/V’s never give up attitude kept them in the game.  Trailing by four with :45 seconds on the clock, Maddie Tusha knocked down a three pointer to pull the Cardinals to within one, 43-42.  Free throws were traded between the two teams, but the G-H/V still trailed, 45-43.  The final charge down the floor saw Tusha make a very good decision to kick the ball out to Mackenzie Haag, who buried a three to give the Cardinals the lead and the victory.

“The mentality of Mack to take that shot was outstanding, considering how her game had been transpiring on the offensive end.  That type of confidence is impressive for a sophomore and necessary by everyone to win big games,” said Coach Matt Erpelding.

Maddie Tusha led the team with 13 points.  MacKenzie Haag and Hannah Hutcheson each had nine points and Tiara Van Gerpen added eight.  Also scoring was Shelby Rayhons with four, Emily Spilman had two and Kim Dornbier added one point.

Tusha led the team in rebounds with seven.  Grace Tusha pulled in five and Rayhons grabbed four - Read More VIa e-Edition