CLARKSVILLE, Mo. — Sharp defense and the hot hand of Falyn Davidson boosted the five-seed Elsberry Lady Indians to an upset overtime win over the two-seed Silex Lady Owls in the consolation game of the Clopton Tournament on Friday night.
Coach Kari Koch-Dowell credited the defense-first approach in the team finding footing as the second half started.
“My teams have always been defensive-driven. We went to our press and we caused some turnovers. That’s what got us really going…and then we saw the ball go through the hoop, then everyone started getting involved,” she told Eagle 102 Sports. “It just clicked for them. That’s what’s happened the last couple of games. It’s been on them and they’re coming through. They’re figuring it out.”
She added she hopes the girls will continue to build on this momentum as the team will move into more EMO Conference action.
“We know all of the teams we’re going to be playing and they know us. It’s more game-planning and concentrating on the little things is what’s going to matter.”
Silex started strong in the consolation final, building a lead behind 5 points from Austyn Van Horn. The Lady Owls led 12-4 after the first frame. More balanced scoring in the second had Silex up 25-13 at halftime.
The Elsberry defense came out sharper in the second half. Madison Lickteig knocked down a three, but both teams’ offenses were stymied early. At 3:30 of the third, Elsberry trailed 28-13 when Lizzy Mound scored the first points of the quarter for the Lady Indians. Like a switch, Davidson was off to the races, completing a set of three-point plays while disrupting the Silex offense with three steals. She netted 11 points in the third as Elsberry outscored Silex 13-6 to go into the fourth down, 31-26.
Davidson picked right up with a bucket to cut the lead to 3. Elsberry claimed their first lead of the game at 5:30 on a Kenzie Koch bucket.
Silex came back on a field goal from Hope Cunningham and a pair of free throws from Rylen Jensen. Once again, a long three-pointer from Davidson erased the lead to knot the score at 35 with four minutes to go.
Van Horn put the Lady Owls up again down the stretch, but another Davidson three locked the teams at 41 with under a minute to go.
Two free throws from Lizzy Mound gave Elsberry a 43-41 advantage, but Van Horn muscled inside to tie score with 16 ticks on the clock. Elsberry set up a final drive, but Mound was forced too far under the basket as regulation expired.
The Lady Indians won the tip and took the lead on a pair of Elin Gladney free throws. Elsberry’s defense arrested Silex in the extra period as the Lady Indians built their lead at the charity stripe.
Lickteig drained a three to cut the Silex deficit to three, 49-46, but Elsberry’s defense forced a turnover and more free throws put the game away for the Lady Indians. Gladney was 6 of 8 from the line in OT as Elsberry outscored Silex 8-3 for the 51-46 victory.
Consolation:
Silex – 12-13-6-12-12-3 — 46
Elsberry – 4-9-13-17-8 — 51
Davidson closed out the night with 27 points to lead Elsberry and earned a spot on the All-Tournament team. Gladney, 8; Koch, 6; Mound, 4; Katie Brinkman, 4; Stevajah Hardwick, 2.
Van Horn led Silex with 12. Cunningham, 11; Jensen, 10; Lickteig, 6; Morgan Kuntz, 5.