Abingdon stops Tazewell in overtime thriller

HILLSVILLE, Va. — The consolation game of the Southwest District tournament would only bring some consolation to one group, the winning team. Both teams desperately wanted that consolation.

Abingdon came back in that game from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. Then they overcame a rough shooting night to make the shots they needed in order to pull away for a 66-61 win over Tazewell Friday night at Carroll County High School.

“I thought, ‘I don’t know if we can do this,’” said Abingdon head coach Rhonda Engle. “I’m just so proud of the girls. They’re down. It was tough to get up to come to Carroll County to play Tazewell for a third time for consolation. But I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“I thought we should have won the game in overtime,” said Tazewell head coach Bill Mitchell. “We had some last-second calls there that killed us and went against us. Actually what it was no calls that led to turnovers that led to points for them and we should have won it in regulation.”

The main reason for the fourth-quarter comeback was Bulldog turnovers. After committing seven in the opening period, they had just six in the second and third quarters. But they were unable to take care of the ball in the fourth, giving up the ball 10 times.

“(Kelsey) Sutherland, we double teamed her,” Engle said. “We put two girls on her to double team her because we knew she was a point guard bringing the ball down the court. That really caused a lot of turnovers there in that fourth quarter, especially in the last three or four minutes.”

Mitchell saw a different reason for the turnovers.

“I think about six of those turnovers were caused by fouls that weren’t called,” the Tazewell coach said. “I just wish the kids would decide the ball game on the floor. I don’t feel like that happened.”

The Falcons overcame a very cold shooting night, going 20-for-81 from the field. Yet they found a way to win.

“We just didn’t hit anything,” Engle said. “We missed layups. There was one time we missed four layups on our end.”

Lauren Wilson shot just 7-for-28 from the field, but went 8-for-10 from the foul line and ended the game with 25 points and 16 rebounds. While Wilson was not making key shots, Sam Mitchell was, hitting four 3-pointers and going 8-for-12 from the stripe for 20 points.

“I told her, ‘Sam, play, have fun. You’re a senior. Go out in style,’” Engle said. “You could tell she put a lot of pressure on herself at times. She looked like she’s having more fun tonight.”

Sabrina Viers helped with the inside domination with 10 rebounds. Jessica Tyler did her part as well with 10 points and eight boards.

Sutherland led Tazewell with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Brittany Muncy added 16 points and 11 boards and Katelyn Mitchell contributed 13 points.

The Falcons had a golden opportunity to take a big lead early and possibly put the game away. The Bulldogs were bitten by the turnover bug, giving the ball up seven times in the first quarter. But Abingdon wasted the gifts, shooting just 5-for-20 from the field in the first eight minutes and could only gain a 10-6 advantage going into the second period.

That was when Tazewell stopped turning the ball over and started making shots. They went on an 11-0 run early in the quarter and shot 7-for-18 from the field during the second eight minutes. They used those factors to go into the dressing room up 26-25.

The Bulldogs kept their momentum through the third quarter and a late burst allowed them to take a 45-36 cushion into the final period. The Falcons never did get on track with their shooting, making just of field goal attempts. But the Tazewell turnover bug gradually started biting again and the Falcons clawed back, tying the game 57-57 with :10.5 left. Neither team was able to get a good look at the basket, making an extra four minutes necessary.

The overtime came down to clutch shooting by the Falcons. Sam Mitchell hit a 3 to give Abingdon a 62-61 lead. She hit a free throw and after a Tazewell turnover Wilson hit two more with :12 left to put the game away.

Abingdon (12-12) will find out on Sunday their opponent for the first round of the Region IV tournament.

“We’ve worked on all we can work on for the year,” Engle said. “We’ve been at this four months. We’re not going to put anything new in.”

Tazewell (8-15) will also learn who they will play in the first round of the Region IV tournament on Sunday.

“I think one of things that hurt us was that we started real slow tonight,” Mitchell said. “I think it’s where we played the late game last night and we got back home late and we’re playing the early game here today. We came out and we were flat.”

— Contact Jed Lockett

at jlockett@bdtonline.com

TAZEWELL (8-15)

Kelsey Sutherland 9-20 2-4 23, Brittany Muncy 4-8 8-11 16, Breanne Vencill 1-8 3-4 5, Katelyn Mitchell 4-15 2-4 13, Cara Cecil 0-0 0-0 0, Amber Sparks 1-5 0-0 2, Kia Thorpe 1-7 0-0 2. Totals 20-63 15-23 61.

ABINGDON (12-12)

Sabrina Viers 1-8 0-0 2, Sam Mitchell 4-13 8-12 20, Jessica Tyler 5-13 0-0 10, Katie Mullins 0-1 0-0 0, Sarah Hawsy 1-4 2-2 4, Kaitlyn Stewart 0-4 0-0 0, Lauren Wilson 2-10 1-2 5, Sarah Whitmore 7-28 8-10 25. Totals 20-81 19-26 66.

Tazewell..................................6 20 19 12 4 — 61

Abingdon..............................10 15 11 21 9 — 66

3-Point Goals -- Tazewell 6-23 (Barton 3-9, Mitchell 3-12, Thorpe 0-1, Vencil 0-1). Abingdon 7-18 (Mitchell 4-7, Wilson 3-9, Tyler 0-1, Whitmore 0-1). Rebounds -- Tazewell 44 (Muncy 11, Sutherland 10). Abingdon 54 (Wilson 16). Blocks -- Tazewell 0. Abingdon 4 (Tyler 2). Turnovers -- Tazewell 25. Abingdon 14.

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