Neuqua Valley slips past South Elgin
The South Elgin girls basketball team threatened Neuqua Valley's undefeated mark in the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division as the Storm looked to avenge a 10-point loss at home on Saturday night.
However, a 95 percent (19-for-20) performance at the free-throw line coupled with a huge game off the bench from Maya Cobb (16 points, 5 rebounds) helped the Wildcats remain unbeaten in conference after a 51-46 victory.
"Any close game, free throws are the difference maker," said Wildcats coach Mike Williams, whose team improved to 16-5 overall, 9-0 in the UEC Valley. "We've preached all season long that someone different is going to step up each night and tonight happened to be Maya's night. She played well all game and hit her free throws down the stretch."
"Conference every year is a big thing," Cobb said. "We're hoping to win the conference and take that momentum and win a regional title."
South Elgin (11-8, 4-3) faced its largest deficit of the night with 3:39 left in the third quarter after a pair from the line by Myia Starks (9 points, 6 rebounds) made it 39-28. The Storm rallied to pull within 1, 47-46, with 1:23 left in the game after Bridgette Williams (16 points) hit a layup, got a quick steal and hit another in the paint and completed a 3-point play after being fouled on the latter bucket.
After that, Kai Moon (11 points) and Cobb both hit a pair from the line to seal the win for the Wildcats. Moon finished the night 8-for-8 at the line and Cobb 7-for-7, 4 coming in the final period.
In comparison to Neuqua Valley's night at the charity stripe the Storm struggled, shooting 47.4 percent (9-for-19). Williams' conversion on the 3-point play was South Elgin's lone free-throw to hit despite 5 attempts in the fourth quarter.
"There's your game," Storm coach Dan Mandernack said. "The kids battled their hearts out and really wanted it, and we had a good week of practice. You have to hand it to Neuqua Valley because they came out hard on the road to get to the line for 20 attempts and only missing one."
Cobb's performance was a key momentum builder early as she came in and scored 8 of her points in the final 2 minutes of the first quarter including a buzzer-beating 3 for an 18-13 lead. Outside of a 1-0 deficit, Neuqua Valley led the entire game.
"I think I was just ready to play today," Cobb said. "South Elgin we knew was a tough team, and we just came in and played with focus and energy."
Jamie McInerney (5 rebounds) and Bryce Menendez both contributed 6 points for the Wildcats. Mackenzie Kelleher had a double-double for the Storm with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Cara Fahey added 6 points.