Sandiettes Slip by Lady Lions in OT Thriller, 57-55

Grapeland Moves to 3-0 in District

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

LOVELADY – Apparently, the banks in Lovelady are open late on Fridays. At least that’s what one fan said after Hannah Chipman banked in a three-pointer to send the Grapeland-Lovelady game into OT.

With under five seconds left in regulation, the Sandiettes had the ball. After a time-out to discuss strategy, the Lovelady Lady Lions came out in a man-to-man defense, after running a zone all night. Chipman was able to shake free of her defender and launched her game tying shot as the horn sounded.

The ball kissed off the backboard and went through the net as Grapeland’s bench exploded with joy while the Lady Lions and their fans stared on in disbelief.

In the overtime period, the Sandiettes fed off the momentum of Chipman’s last second shot to hold off the Lady Lions and escape with the 57-55 OT win.

The game started with the Sandiettes taking an early lead after the first quarter of play. Kenya Woods had four points for Grapeland while both Ragan Bowie and Tatiyanna Bowie had three apiece. Teira Jones closed out the first quarter scoring for the Sandiettes with a free throw.

The Lady Lions were led by Hannah Burleson and Skye Watts with three apiece while Kaiden LeMaire had a basket to close out the quarter with Grapeland ahead by a score of 11-8.

The tables turned, somewhat, in the second quarter as the Lady Lions were able to take a 21-19 lead at halftime. Watts had five for Lovelady while a quartet of Lady Lions – Burleson, Brittani Gambill, Madelyn James and Jala Rollo all had two.

The Sandiettes points came from KeKe Harris with three, T. Bowie and Chipman with two apiece, and Jones who converted one of two from the line to bring an end to the first half scoring.

After the intermission, the Sandiettes and Lady Lions played to a draw in the third quarter as both teams scored 12 points.

Watts had six for Lovelady while Burleson, Gambill and James all had two.

Bowie had four points for the Sandiettes while Chipman had three. Jones and Deana McKnight both had two while Harris converted one of two from the line to make the score 33-31 – Lovelady – with eight minutes left in the game.

As the fourth quarter got underway, Jones for Grapeland and Watts for Lovelady took over the game.

Both had eight points for their respective teams as the game went back and forth until the final horn sounded.

Jones was helped by Chipman who had five in the period, including the game tying three-pointer and Harris who added four.

Watts was assisted by Burleson with three, along with James and LeMaire who both had two.

The OT period saw the momentum from Chipman’s shot stay with the Sandiettes while the Lady Lions struggled to not let the last-second shot deflate them. Fortunately for Grapeland, the Sandiettes had just enough left in the tank to take an early lead in overtime and then hold on for the 57-55 win.

The Sandiettes were led in OT by Harris with three while R. Bowie, Chipman and Jones all had two.

The Lady Lions points came from LeMaire with four and Watts with three.

For the game, Skye Watts led all scorers with 25 points. Burleson had 10 for Lovelady, Kaiden LeMaire dropped in eight, Madelyn James scored six, Brittani Gambill had four and Jala Rollo chipped in two.

The Sandiettes were led by Teira Jones with 14 and Hannah Chipman with 12 points. KeKe Harris went for 10, Tatiyanna Bowie had nine and both Kenya Woods along with Ragan Bowie had five. Deana McKnight rounded the Sandiettes point production with two.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].