Kaneland falls to Ottawa in 4 overtimes
With the clock winding down in the second overtime Tuesday during Kaneland's Northern Illinois Big XII crossover with Ottawa, the Knights band struck up a most appropriate tune - "Thriller."
It turned out to be that and then some, four overtimes worth of back and forth basketball that saw 16 lead changes and 10 ties in a game that lasted nearly two and a half hours.
When the dust finally settled Kaneland could point to free throw shooting as the difference in a 75-69 quadruple overtime loss that indeed was a thriller.
"Ten of 25 in four overtimes will kill you," Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. "We had multiple chances to end the game in regulation and throughout overtimes. Nobody went to the line trying to miss free throws. It's unfortunate. We've been hitting free throws at a better clip but we didn't tonight and it cost us. Any one of those could have been the difference."
Kaneland (16-9) made just 5 of 14 free throws in the overtimes. Many of those misses came at the worst times including a pair of front ends of 1-and-1s at the end of regulation and free throws that could have won the game at the end of the first three overtimes.
"Sometimes you need a bounce or two and we were able to get a bounce," said veteran Ottawa coach Mike Cooper who like Colombe could not recall ever being part of a four-overtime game.
Kaneland got off to a solid start by going inside to 6-foot-3 junior Bailey Crimmins. She established position down low and took entry passes from Vanessa Gould, Jennifer Weber and Morgan Weber to score the first six Kaneland points for a 6-4 lead.
The teams ended up trading the lead six times in the first quarter, which ended with Ottawa up 14-11 after Jill Wignes scored on an out-of-bounds play with just 4 seconds left on the clock.
The Pirates kept shooting well in the second quarter, 6 of 12 again, for a 30-25 halftime edge.
Kaneland turned up its defense in the third quarter, forcing 5 turnovers and holding the Pirates to 2 field goals. Ally VanBogaert made a pair of 3s and Camri Conley scored on a drive just before the buzzer for a 39-38 lead going to the fourth.
VanBogaert drained her fifth 3 for a 42-38 lead early in the fourth. Morgan Weber made consecutive baskets and Kaneland had its biggest lead of the night, 46-41 with three minutes left.
Kaneland still led 48-45 with just 20 seconds to go in position to put the game away but missed back-to-back front ends.
Instead of playing for a tying 3, Ottawa went inside and drew a foul. Jordan Hayne made the first, missed her second, got her own rebound and missed.
The Pirates (19-6) rebounded again and passed back to Jessica Wignes who nailed a long jumper from just inside the top of the key. Officials originally called it a 3 that would have won the game for Ottawa before huddling up and switching their call to a 2 that sent the game to overtime.
"I knew it wasn't a 3 but they put it up there, I'm going to try to sell it," Cooper said. "It was a wild finish to regulation and I don't think anybody knew what was going on. You look up there and we're up by a point and I knew it wasn't a 3."
"The game is over if we block out on a free throw," Colombe said. "We don't get that done, we've got to learn from that."
Kaneland trailed 51-49 in the first overtime before Conley drove and kicked out to Jennifer Weber for a 3 and a 52-51 lead.
Hayne, who finished with 19 points and 21 rebounds, put Ottawa back up 53-52 with 22 seconds left. With just 6.9 remaining Jennifer Weber was fouled shooting a 3.
Weber got the second of three free throws to go to tie the game at 53. The Lady Knights got possession after she missed the third but Wignes stole the ball and took it the other way, rimming a 15-footer that would have won the game at the buzzer.
Crimmins scored inside for a 57-56 lead with a minute to go in the second overtime. Hayne again answered with a bucket to put Ottawa back up.
This time it was Crimmins who was fouled down a point, and she split free throws to send the game to a third OT tied at 58.
Crimmins fouled out with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the third OT while the Pirates lost Jill Wignes with 15 points.
But the rest of the girls kept battling, Morgan Weber coming up with a steal she took for a layup and a 62-60 lead.
For the third straight overtime Hayne tied the game late for the Pirates, this time with 2 free throws. Kaneland again had a chance to win but missed two free throws, got the ball back, but then traveled with 6 seconds left.
In the fourth OT Ottawa took command early with a basket by reserve Kaylee Donovan and a Wignes 3. Van Bogaert hit her sixth 3 to finish with a team-high 18 points but the Pirates made enough free throws to hold on.
"She (VanBogaert) took some good shots tonight," Colombe said. "She's capable of hitting shots. She's been playing well for us down the stretch. She can help us space the floor when we've got Bailey inside."
Wignes led all scorers with 22 for Ottawa who won the conference's West Division.
Jennifer Weber (12 points), Morgan Weber (10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) and Conley (10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) all played strong games on a memorable night.
"Live and learn," Colombe said. "We've got to tighten some things up. Part of that is we are pretty darn young. This is all great experience for them. The kids played hard tonight."