BELLEVILLE — It took an extra four minutes, but the Belleville Wildcats used the extra time to out-score New Glarus 9-5 in overtime to take a 47-43 win in a classic Capitol South Conference battle on Friday, Jan. 16.
The game hardly looked like a classic at halftime as Belleville looked to be in control with a 23-11 lead behind six points each from senior Toria Devoe and junior Khylee Lietz.
But, New Glarus would have none of that in the second half as the Glarner Knights chipped away at the deficit. Devoe made a three-pointer to give Belleville a 26-15 lead but, that’s when New Glarus began its comeback.
Junior Ellie Brenkman’s putback and junior Kate Parman’s basket got it to 26-19 with 11:00 left. Freshman Ellie Parkman made a three to get it down to 29-24 with 8:04 left. With the score 35-28 in favor of the Wildcats, Kate Parman and Brenkman each made baskets and Ellie Parman made a long three to tie the game at 35-35 with 1:20 left. Leitz made a free throw to put Belleville ahead 36-35 with 54.6 seconds left. Kate Parman was good on one of two free throws for New Glarus to tie it again at 36-36 with 40.3 seconds remaining.
Belleville set up for a last shot with 8.8 seconds left. On a drive to the basket, Devoe was fouled by Ellie Brenkman with 4.3 seconds left in regulation. Devoe made both free throws to give the Wildcats a 38-36 lead. Junior Kalie Malaise, who went scoreless in the first half, fired a shot at the buzzer that missed, but officials ruled she was fouled with .4 seconds left. Malaise made both free throws to send the game into overtime at 38-38.
In overtime, Ellie Parman was fouled by senior Cora Funseth and Parman made one of two free throws to give New Glarus at 39-38 lead. It would be the only lead the Glarner Knights would have the entire game. Devoe made two free throws and nailed a three to put the Wildcats ahead 43-39 with 2:07 left in OT. Sophomore Annabelle Curl of New Glarus made a free throw with 2:02 left to make it 43-40. Then, Leitz was called for an offensive foul and Ellie Parman made a three from downtown to tie the game again at 43-43 with 1:10 left. Belleville got a putback basket from Funseth with 21.6 seconds left in overtime to give Belleville a 45-43 lead and Devoe sealed the win for the Wildcats with a pair of free throws with 1.2 seconds left.
Devoe finished with 22 points and Leitz had 10 to lead Belleville. Ellie Parman led the way for New Glarus with 14 points and Kate Parman had 11.
Belleville coach Eric Liegel was not surprised that New Glarus would fight hard and find some way to make a comeback.
“We knew that going in. When you watch them on film sometimes when they get down 10 or 15 points but they never get blown out. So, we knew they were gonna fight back,” said Liegel.
As for strategy in overtime, Liegel said Belleville wanted to make sure the ball was in Devoe’s hands.
“I knew going into overtime we were going to be able to get her looks. I knew they (her shots) were going in. That’s the way she is all the time,” Liegel said.
Belleville (8-6, 3-0) will host Cambridge for first place in the Capitol South on Thursday, Jan. 22. New Glarus (7-7, 1-1) hosted Darlington in a nonconference game scheduled on Monday, Jan 19.
