OAK HILL — With his team up by 14, 43-29, heading into the fourth quarter of the Class AAA Region 3, Section 2 tournament, Greenbrier East coach Jim Justice implored his team to do two things.

Give him effort in the first two minutes of the final period and get to 55 points.

His team did that, but it took overtime to do it.

Freshman Anna Hammaker tied the game at the end of regulation then scored the Spartans’ first six points of overtime as No. 2 East (21-1) dodged a huge bullet with a 62-59 win at the Lilly Center Wednesday night.

East moves on to face Woodrow Wilson Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Section 2 championship game and are assured of at least making the Region 3 super regional tournament next week.

Nicholas County (15-8) was eliminated but the Grizzlies certainly went down swinging.

Down 45-31 early in the fourth, Nicholas, 1 of 15 on 3s in the first half, starting raining 3s.

“I tried to call a timeout when we were up by 14,” Justice said. “We were going to take the air out of the ball. We couldn’t get it called and there they went. They really got it cranking.”

Lindsay Hogan started and ended a 16-2 run with treys and the Spartans couldn’t answer.

Back-to-back 3s by Hogan tied the game at 47-47 with 2:35 left.

East retook the lead, 51-48, before Nicholas County’s Lauren Young made two free throws with 25.8 seconds left.

After the Spartans converted just 1 of 2 free throws, Kristen McGirl took advantage with a 3-pointer to give Nicholas County the lead 53-52.

East tried to milk the clock by letting the ball roll to halfcourt but the Grizzlies’ Mykenzie Martin knocked the ball free and the ensuing tie-up gave the Grizzlies the ball.

Shaelyn Shaffer made 1-of -2 free throws, setting the stage for Hammaker to tie the game at the buzzer with a drive to the basket.

“I just wasn’t ready for the season to end,” said Hammaker, who had 28 points and eight rebounds. We talked at halftime about not letting them get back in the game. But they did a great job of coming back. After I made (the shot), I just said, ‘Let’s go win it now.’”

“She made plays and that is a credit to her,” Nicholas County coach Tom McGirl said. “We left some (points) out there at the free throw line (Nicholas was 9 of 22) and we didn’t make stops going to the basket. But I’m proud of this team. They fought. This is the best group of girls I’ve ever coached.”

The Grizzlies weren’t done.

After Hammaker made a 3 to give East the lead in overtime, Hogan answered with a three and was fouled. She completed the 4-point play giving the Grizzlies the lead, 58-57.

But Hammaker scored on a drive after a Chaunte McDowell steal and, after a big block by 6-foot-6 Cheyenne Hooper (one of nine she had in the game), Hammaker made 1 of 2 free throws.

That’s when Justice employed an unconventional, albeit effective, coaching move.

He ordered his team to foul.

“I’m a firm believer in whoever has the ball last is going to win,” Justice said. “I just can’t stand the sight of that ball floating through the air on a 3 pointer.”

The way Nicholas was shooting, it made sense.

Shaffer made 1 of 2 to make it 60-59 with 20.6 seconds left.

McDowell closed out the game with a pair of free throws. Nicholas got off a 3 that bounced off the rim as time expired.

“I told the girls to look at the scoreboard after Anna sent the game to overtime,” Justice said. “It was 54-54. We didn’t get to 55. I just felt like if we could get to 55 we would win the game. I didn’t think they could score 25 points in the quarter and they had 24.”

In addition to Hammaker, who also had five assists, McDowell had 15 points, Bianca Andre, who fouled out at the beginning of overtime, had 13 and 15 rebounds. Hooper had just six points but 16 rebounds to go along with her nine blocks.

Shaffer was all over the floor for Nicholas. She had 21 points and 16 rebounds. Hogan added 13.

“Absolutely,” Justice said, when asked if his team dodged a bullet. “When we were going through the line, I told Tom, like Apollo Creed told Rocky, there won’t be a rematch. We don’t wanna play that team again.

“They are well coached and they played hard. I have to give them all the credit in the world. But I credit our girls, too. Like in the movie Jurassic Park, when they said ‘life finds a way.’ We found a way.”



Greenbrier East 62, Nicholas County 59

Nicholas County (15-8)

Kristen McGirl 3 0-2 8, Lauren Young 1 3-9 5, Whitney Robinson 1 0-0 2, Mykenzie Martin 3 0-0 8, Shaelyn Shaffer 8 5-10 21, Makayla Willis 0 0-0 0, Alexis Brown 1 0-0 2, Lindsay Hogan 4 1-1 13. Totals: 21 9-22 59.

Greenbrier East (21-1)

Elizabeth Romeo 0 0-0 0, Chaunte McDowell 5 3-4 15, Anna Hammaker12 2-7 28, Bianca Andre 5 2-4 13, Cheyenne Hooper 3 0-0 6, Chloe Honaker 0 0-0 0, Abby Brown 0 0-0 0, Cassie Ford 0 0-0 0, Maddee Carroll 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 7-15 62.

NC    2    15    12    24    5    —    59

GE    17    13    13    11    8    —    62

Three-point goals — NC: 8 (McGirl 2, Martin 2, Hogan 4); GE: 5 (McDowell 2, Hammaker 2, Andre); Fouled out — GE: Andre.