Edwards County squeaked out of Carmi with a 52-48 win on January 22nd, in a game where the Lady Bulldogs had a 2-point lead and the ball with 90 seconds left to play. EC ended the game on a 6-0 run to steal a victory out of the arms of the Lady Bulldogs. That win a week ago shook up the top of the Black Diamond Conference standings. With CWC defeating Fairfield, and Edwards County falling to Hamilton County earlier this week, it set up a huge matchup between the Lady Lions and Lady Bulldogs on Thursday night, putting the winner in sole possession of 1st Place in the BDC.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a hot start in Albion on Thursday, taking a 14-5 lead with 2:15 to go in the 1st quarter. The Lions however answered with a mini 7-0 run to cut Carmi’s lead to 14-12 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Both teams traded baskets in the 2nd quarter, but Carmi held a 27-22 lead in the final seconds of the half. Edwards County looked to hold for the final shot, but they turned the ball over with just 4.7 seconds on the clock. The Lions assumed CWC would let the clock run out, but Caroline Simmons took the turnover and went coast-to-coast to beat the buzzer to end the half, and give the Lady Bulldogs a 29-22 lead at the break. 2 points that would loom large later.
The Lady Bulldogs grew their lead back up to 9 early in the 3rd quarter at 33-24, but right when it felt as if Carmi was getting ready to run away with it, the Lions exploded for a 10-0 run to take the lead. EC would end the quarter on a 16-5 run to take their largest lead of the night into the 4th quarter, 42-38.
Addi Elliott kicked off the 4th quarter with a monster three from the top of the key to trim the EC lead to 42-41. After a stop, Simmons answered with another 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Lady Bulldogs back in front, 44-42 just 40 seconds into the 4th quarter. A Torrie Rider layup pushed that lead to 46-42 and Carmi had put together their own 8-0 to start the final quarter.
In true Edwards County fashion, the Lions fought back to tie the game at 46-46 with 4:23 left in the game, but Rider then gave Carmi the lead back with a turnaround jumper, 48-46 CWC. The Lions would answer with a basket to tie it 48-48, but Simmons would steal a pass on one end and once again go coast-to-coast to put the Lady Bulldogs back in front for the final time.
Carmi was able to kill nearly 4 minutes of clock before EC was forced to foul to send the Lady Bulldogs to the free throw line. However, Carmi would make just 2 of 6 free throws in the final minute to give Edwards County a chance to tie or win the game at 52-50 with 10 seconds to play. The Lions would get the look they wanted, an open 3-point attempt from their best player, Grace Bishop, but the shot rimmed out and time ran out, securing a monster win for the Lady Bulldogs.
Simmons led the Lady Bulldogs in scoring in one of her best performances of her career, scoring 22 points.
Addi Elliott scored 12 points.
Torrie Rider scored 8 points.
Ashlyn Rager scored 6 points.
Jaya Smith scored 4 points.
With the win, the Lady Bulldogs improve to 15-7 on the year and 7-1 in the BDC East. Carmi will host Hamilton County on Monday, a win will clinch the BDC East Championship for the second consecutive year.
Black Diamond Conference Standings:
1. Carmi-White County (7-1)
2. Hamilton County (5-2)
3. Edwards County (5-3)
4. Fairfield (4-3)
5. Flora (2-6)
6. Eldorado (0-8)
