In her first career start, Park Hill South sophomore Avery Simmons had to step up to the free throw line with 2.5 seconds remaining with a chance to take the lead against Liberty North on Nov. 23.
Park Hill South’s Avery Simmons (#23) and Shun Quinlan (#31) high five and run off the court after securing a 48-47 victory over Liberty North on Nov. 23.
In its season opener, the Park Hill South girls’ basketball team had a five-point lead with 1:07 remaining in regulation, but a late surge by Liberty North gave the Panthers the ball with 36 seconds left tied at 47. When Simmons drew a foul in a rocking Liberty North gym, the guard had two chances to put Park Hill South in position to win.
The sophomore’s first attempt was short, but she came up clutch and knocked down the second attempt. Liberty North called a timeout but was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer sounded and the Panthers survived, 48-47.
“I’m glad she was shooting it; she is a great free throw shooter and I had confidence she would make at least one of them,” Park Hill South head coach Josh Dorr said. “At practice when I ask them who wants to shoot a free throw to send us home, she is never afraid to step up to the challenge and knock it down.”
The Panthers led 44-37 with right under two minutes remaining, but the Eagles started fouling Park Hill South to stop the clock. The Panthers converted on four of their next six free throw attempts down the stretch, but the Eagles responded with back-to-back made shots from behind the arc and a three-point play to tie the contest with under a minute to go.
“They’re a good team and well-coached, so I told the girls that they’re not going to roll over and give up. They have a lot of pride and have had a good team the last few years, so they are ready to go,” Dorr said.
Park Hill South opened the contest by scoring nine of the first 10 points, but from that point on there were four ties and six lead changes in the opening half. A free throw and layup from Regan Williams gave Park Hill South a 21-18 lead at the break.
The Panthers held on to a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter and began the period on a 9-2 run. Gabbie Schultz knocked down a trey and a layup, while Shun Quinlan and Jayme Dixon both had a two-point bucket and the Eagles trailed 42-32.