MENTONE – The fans got their money’s worth and a whole lot more as two unbeaten’s battled through a triple overtime contest ending with Plymouth’s Lady Pilgrims taking a 56-48 win.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Plymouth coach Dave Duncan. “Anytime you go on the road and can pick up a win over a great team like Tippecanoe Valley it’s great for your team and great for your program.”

It was a win that almost came in regulation with a huge basket by Hunter Stevens in the final seconds. Plymouth had a three point lead with under 10 seconds to play – was able to knock the inbounds pass on an ensuing Valley inbounds play away, but the heroics of Taylor Trippiedi with a three point bank shot at the buzzer kept it going for 12 more minutes.

Plymouth grabbed a lead in the early going that they were able to hold for much of the contest but the Lady Vikings chipped away with a tenacious defense and the two teams traded leads numerous times in the 20 minutes after the third quarter.

Turnovers were the problem for Plymouth. Senior point guard Haley Harrell was the solution.

“I always joke with Haley that’s she’s going to have to play 32 minutes and she went a little bit longer than that tonight,” said Duncan. “What a great senior leader. She wants the ball in her hands at the end and makes great plays.”

Harrell hit nine of ten free throws – more importantly five of six in overtime – nailed a big jumper in the paint in the third overtime and took charge of distributing the ball against an outstanding Valley half court trap from the fourth quarter on.

The result? Plymouth had 20 turnovers in the first three quarters – five after that.

“We talked at haltime about playing too fast,” said Duncan. “What does a trapping team want you to do? To dribble, and we did that in the first half. That’s senior leadership, so many big plays in the game. Everybody made big plays in the game and that’s what you want from your team.”

Valley overcame first quarter hardship with post power Anne Secrest on the bench for nine minutes of the first half in foul trouble. Valley was able to stay within five at the break and then made their run in the third quarter.

 

“She is a wonderful player,” Duncan said of Valley’s outstanding sophomore post player Secrest, but he saw his own sophomore post player – Nicole Horvath – match her throughout the game scoring 18 points of her own to lead all scorers.

“Nicole made some huge plays down the stretch, attacking and isolating her a little bit. This is really the first game our interior defense was tested a little bit and I think we past. And that’s something to build on too.”

Plymouth is now unbeaten at 7-0 and Valley is now 4-1.

 

Score by Quarters

Plymouth 9 22 26 38 46 46 56

Valley 9 17 29 38 46 46 48

Valley (48) – Tripiedi 1 0-0 3, Tucker 1 0-0 2, Brouyette 5 3-4 15, Teel 2 0-0 4, Krueger 1 2-3 4, Dunn 3 1-1 7, Secrest 6 1-2 13. Totals 19 7-10 48.

Plymouth (56) – Stevens 5 2-3 12, Andrews 0 1-2 1, Fosler 1 4-7 6, Harrell 2 9-10 14, Wright 1 1-2 3, Singleton 1 0-0 2, Horvath 6 6-8 18. Totals 16 23-32 56.

3 Pt. FG – Valley 3-17 (Brouyette 2), Plymouth 1-5 (Harrell).

Rebounds – Valley 15 (Secrest 6), Plymouth 24 (Harrell 6).

Assists – Valley 4 (Trippiedi, Tucker, Brouyette, Secrest), Plymouth 6 (Horvath, Wright, Harrell 2)

Steals – Valley 9 (Secrest 3), Plymouth 17 (Wright 6).

Turnovers – Valley 21, Plymouth 21.

Fouls (Fouled Out) – Valley 25 (Teel, Krueger, Dunn), Plymouth 13 (Stevens).