By Cort Reynolds
CONVOY__It doesn’t get you on the ESPN highlights, but making pressure free throws down the stretch often decides close games.
The Allen East High School girls basketball team shot well at the foul line to help topple Crestview 45-40 on the road in a Northwest Conference battle Thursday night, January 18.
The Mustang girls converted 12 of 14 free throws in the decisive fourth quarter to knock Crestview from the league undefeated ranks and off their perch atop the NWC.
AE junior standout guard Rilynn Jones canned a perfect eight for eight from the charity stripe in the clutch during the final period to finish with a team-high 13 points.
The Lady Mustangs outscored the Knight girls 30-21 in the second half, including 18-15 in the final period, to pull off one of the biggest regular season wins in recent AE hoops history.
Senior wing Savana Brooks hit two third-period triples and tallied all 11 of her points in the second half.
The Mustang girls improved to 11-2 overall and 2-2 in the NWC with the road win. Meanwhile, the Knight girls fell to 13-2 and 4-1 in the NWC after the upset loss.
Delphos Jefferson (4-0 NWC) took over first place in the conference with a 52-20 win at Ada Thursday.
“I thought it was a great team victory,” said AE head coach Aaron Mongomery. “We hit free throws. We set the game plan to really slow the game down offensively, but push and attack off a live-ball turnover or defensive rebound.
“Rilynn did a fantastic job controlling that tempo and getting us into our sets,” he continued. “I was proud of Savana for stepping up and guarding Cali Gregory, and sticking with it even when she got some easy baskets.
“Aubrey Young, Brynn Richardson and Soraya Jackson did a great job defensively and rebounding,” he added.
Senior post Jackson contributed nine points, including three baskets in the opening stanza.
“We hovered around a one or two-possession lead late, and I thought we did a stellar job stepping up and knocking those free throws down,” said Montgomery.
“But on the flip side we did a great job of playing defense without fouling,” he noted.
AE led 11-8 after the first quarter, yet trailed 19-15 at halftime after scoring just four points in the second stanza. Knight ace Cali Gregory hit a three-pointer at the halftime horn.
A 12-6 third period comeback run gave AE a 27-25 edge heading to the final period.
“I am proud of our kids - they didn’t hang their heads after Cali hit that three at the buzzer, and they stuck with it,” Montgomery observed. “We battled back from six or eight points down in the third quarter by getting stops.
“We handled their runs and made our own, and hung on at the end,” he added.
Senior Cali Gregory scored a game-high 18 points, and freshman Kaci Gregory added a dozen markers to lead Crestview.
AE canned 10 deuces and nailed three treys. The Mustangs converted 16 of 19 foul shots (84 percent).
Crestview connected on 11 two-point goals and hit three triples. The Knights converted nine of 10 free throws (90 percent).
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group, and how much fight and composure they showed,” said Montgomery. “It is the biggest regular season win here in my tenure.”
AE hosts WBL foe Celina (5-9) next Monday. The Mustangs then visit non-conference opponent Defiance Tinora (8-5) Tuesday, and welcome Leipsic (7-7, 1-4 NWC) to Harrod next Thursday in a league battle.
The Vikings beat Bluffton 51-39 Thursday night.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL | |
| CVW | 8 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 40 |
| AE | 11 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 45 |
