OLPE — After a tough start Saturday, Crest High girls head coach Steve Zimmerman called timeout, mainly just to settle his players.
“I think we were a little shell-shocked,” he admitted.
Host Olpe was downright stifling in the early going, limiting the Lady Lancers to four points in the first quarter.
But aside from getting his players to calm their nerves, Zimmerman reminded Crest’s squad that they’re pretty good on the defensive end, too.
Sure enough, Crest whittled away at the lead, bit by bit, until pulling even early in the fourth quarter to settle up a dramatic finish.
Kinley Edgerton scored the decisive points down the stretch as Crest emerged with a 36-34 victory.
The win puts Crest in Friday’s Class 1A-I Substate Tournament championship vs. Flinthills at Canton-Galva High School.
“Cursten Allen had a huge game for us,” Zimmerman said. “She hit some huge 3’s to close the gap.
“But make no mistake,” he continued. “Our defense was what made the difference. It was a whole team effort.”
Crest closed Olpe’s lead to 19-15 at halftime and 29-27 after three.
Crest had a scare in the waning seconds when guard Aylee Beckmon fell on her knee and the Lady Lancers leading, 35-34.
“We think she’ll be OK,” Zimmerman said.
The Lancers rebounded a missed free throw, and were able to run out most of the clock until Olpe fouled Edgerton with 3 seconds left.
Edgerton hit the first free throw. Olpe rebounded Edgerton’s miss, but could do no better than a desperation heave that was off the mark when the buzzer sounded.
Allen led the way with 14 points and Edgerton had 11.
Players like Karlee Boots, who scored five points, also warranted praise, Zimmerman said.
