Prayer answered
- Updated: February 12, 2019
Goodwin’s shot at the buzzer saves Glencoe after Lady Jackets lose an 18-point lead; plays Weaver in regionals
Monday’s subregion scores
Anniston 71, Jacksonville 16
Cherokee County 68, Talladega 47
Glencoe 56, Locust Fork 55
Pisgah 77, Pleasant Valley 39
Ranburne 46, Ohatchee 40 (OT)
Ramsay 74, Munford 11
Sacred Heart 74, LaFayette 48
Spring Garden 75, Winterboro 37
Weaver 62, Sylvania 56
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
LOCUST FORK – There was little time left and no timeouts to stop it. The Glencoe Lady Jackets needed a miracle if they wanted to keep playing.
Calling on a play he had seen in the NCAA Tournament highlights for years but never worked in practice, Lady Jackets coach Daniel Cook drew up what he called the desperation “Dear Lord Jesus” play.
The Lady Jackets had their prayer answered as Anna Grace Goodwin hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer lifting them a 56-55 victory over Locust Fork after losing an 18-point lead.
They now play Weaver in the Class 3A Northeast Regional Monday at Jacksonville State. Cook and Weaver coach Gary Atchley are such good friends they agreed to swap film of their respective subregional victories. Weaver beat Sylvania 62-56.
“Unbelievable game,” Cook said. “This is a game we’ll always remember. I know I will never forget it. Crazy finish.”
The Lady Jackets (20-9) had been leading all game and went into the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead. But Locust Fork rallied under a barrage of five 3-pointers and took the lead on Regan Fuller’s runner in the lane with 3.6 seconds to go.
The Lady Hornets shot 83 percent from the field in the fourth quarter. Of their first nine possessions, eight produced either a made 3-pointer or a three-point play.
With no time outs – a fact Cook had to be reminded of to avoid a technical foul that would have ended all hope – Glencoe had to make something happen fast. If the Lady Jackets had a time out they’d get the ball to midcourt and use it, but they didn’t have that luxury.
So they plugged in their version of the “Hail Mary.” Anna Beth Giles took the inbounds pass, passed it ahead to Goodwin off a screen and she let the shot go just before the horn sounded. It went through the hoop, touching off a swing of emotions on both sides. Ironically, all off Goodwin’s family hails from Locust Fork.
“It’s the first time we used it in the game,” Cook said. “I’ve been telling everybody we probably repped it 50 times in practice and it never worked. I always remember that Valpo shot (Bryce Drew’s buzzer-beater against Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament) and I remember (Valparaiso) coach (Homer) Drew saying that’s the first time it ever worked.
“I told the girls you never know. They executed it exactly the way it was supposed to go. It was crazy. I thought both of us were even coming in and it came down to one shot.”
Goodwin finished with eight points. Giles came within two assists of a triple-double (12 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists), Ashley Morgan had 11 points and Lauren Cole 10.
Locust Fork’s Carissa Horton led all scorers with 23 points.
Glencoe 56, Locust Fork 55
GLENCOE (20-9) – Anna Grace Goodwin 3 0-1 8, Anna Beth Giles 6 0-0 12, Abby Vice 2 2-2 6, Alie Silvey 0 0-0 0, Ashley Morgan 4 3-6 11, Asia Dennis 0 0-0 0, Lauren Cole 4 1-1 10, Aubrey Gray 3 0-0 6, Cami Zahorscak 1 0-0 3. Totals 23 6-10 56.
LOCUST FORK – Regan Fuller 3 0-0 7, Kaylynn Tawbush 1 0-0 3, Skylar Massey 3 0-2 8, Sydney Baker 3 2-3 9, Shelly Bailey 2 0-0 5, Carissa Horton 9 3-3 23, Faith Evans 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-8 55.
Glencoe 15 16 11 14 – 56
Locust Fork 8 10 9 28 – 55
3-point goals: Glencoe 4 (Goodwin 2, Cole, Zahorscak); Locust Fork 8 (Fuller, Tawbush, Massey 2, Baker, Bailey, Horton 2). Total fouls: Glencoe 11, Locust Fork 12. Officials: Watson, Brewer, Bugg.
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