SEMISTATE: Clutch Jimtown does it again with 71-62 overtime win over 2A No. 3 Oak Hill, 71-62

By Mark Bradford
Southbendtribune.com

ELKHART – Jimtown put its chances for a historic trip to the girls basketball state finals on the line at North Side Gym here Saturday afternoon in the Class 2A Semistate. Fortunately for the Jimmies, it was the free throw line.

Jimtown, led by an incredible 20-of-21 effort from the line by senior Stephanie Wagner, nailed 38 free throws to earn its first ever trip to Indianapolis with a 71-62 overtime win over third-ranked Oak Hill (24-2). Jimtown 24-2, will play No. 1 and defending state champ Heritage Christian Saturday for the state title. Tipoff is set for approximately 12:30.

Jimtown has made a habit of dodging near collapses in the final minutes of games along the tournament trail, only to escape with a mixture of gutsy play and free throws. Such was the case againWith the Jimmies clinging to a 57-53 lead, Oak Hill’s spectacular freshman guard, Courtney Moses, nailed a 17-footer with five seconds to play in regulation. The shot was originally recorded as a 3-pointer but was changed to a 2-pointer by the alternate official.

That left the Jimmies with a 57-55 edge with four seconds to play. However, Jimtown was unable to inbound the ball and threw a court-long pass to nobody in order to try to run out the clock. Moses quickly recovered the ball, hurried up the floor and scored a layin as time expired to send the contest into overtime.

But Oak Hill already had four players foul out and was at a disadvantage in the overtime.

“We had several players on the floor at the end of the game and overtime who normally would not be in that position,” Oak Hill head coach Todd Law said. “I have never had six players foul out of any game I have ever coached.”

Jimtown head coach Gene Johnson generally uses only seven players and his team’s fitness paid off. Wagner, who scored 28 points, scored uncontested and Melissa Goward (12 points, 10 rebounds) followed with another uncontested bunny to begin overtime and after that, it was “free throw city,” which is exactly where Johnson likes his team to be.

“This is unbelievable,” Johnson said. “What a great effort on the part of our kids. For Oak Hill to come back and tie it right at the buzzer and then for us to come back and take control so quickly in overtime is really indicative of our confidence.

“Stephanie Wagner is money at the free throw line,” Johnson continued. “She didn’t get many open looks during the first half and I was a little concerned about that. But Sarah DeShone stepped up big time for us.”

Jimtown had a spectacular game from DeShone, the daughter of Jimtown boys head coach Randy DeShone. Sarah had a career high 24 points, including four key 3-pointers in the second half.

Jimtown struggled with the Oak Hill press, turning the ball over 20 times and often calling a timeout to avoid the 10-second backcourt violation.

“Oak Hill is very quick,” Johnson said. “We talked all week about their quickness at every position and fortunately we were able to get it into the right people at the right time.”

Moses led Oak Hill with 24 points

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