Girls Basketball: Sophomore Gwyneth O’Connell’s buzzer-beater rallies Newark past Indian Creek in OT thriller

SHABBONA – Gwyneth O’Connell was getting ready to D-up, but she didn’t have to.

The fearless, 5-foot-2 Newark sophomore’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer in overtime lifted the Norsemen to a stunning 48-47 victory over Indian Creek in Little Ten Conference action Thursday night in Shabbona.

“Once I hit the shot I thought to get back on defense and looked at the scoreboard, and there was absolutely no time left,” she said. “I didn’t realize it was so short, and then Taylor [Kruser] came over to me and we were jumping up and down. It was just so exciting.”

After Lindsey Hatteberg received the ball just past midcourt down the far sideline she lobbed a pass to Kruser, who dribbled from outside the arc toward the free throw line, opting to send a chest pass to O’Connell.

“When I drove I didn’t know someone was on the other side of the court,” said Kruser, who scored nine points. “I was literally going to drive for the shot and she was sitting there for the 3 and she made it.”

O’Connell, who scored six points, is proving to not only be an excellent addition to the team, but a clutch player. In her first varsity game on Dec. 2, she made two free throws with 1.7 seconds left to help the team hang on for a 47-43 victory over Hinckley-Big Rock.

“She’s got no fear,” Newark assistant coach Glenn Clausel said. “We got her open in the corner earlier, but she missed it, but we put her in for that reason. She’ll jack that thing and not think about it. She could be our best 3-pointer shooter.”

The way the game started Indian Creek didn’t look like it would have to worry about buzzer beaters as it was able to beat down the Norsemen with its fast break, outscoring the Norsemen, 19-4, in the second quarter.

“We were giving away rebounds,” Newark senior Reese Heap said. “And then coach talked some sense into us. We were in this, but we just needed to score.”

Indian Creek (9-8, 2-1) took its biggest lead of the game on Audrey Witte’s basket to open the third quarter for a 31-17 advantage, but the Timberwolves’ offense would sputter and Newark (8-5, 3-0) fought its way back.

“We’ve been struggling offensively all year so it was nice to see that first half, especially the second quarter,” Indian Creek coach Paul Muchmore said. “Then we hit a lull and had trouble scoring. But give them credit, they got down, we let them back in the game, but we didn’t quit, we switched to the press and got back in the game.”

[ Photos: Indian Creek vs. Newark girls basketball ]

Kjersten Friestad’s free throws with 5:17 left in regulation gave Newark a 35-34 lead, finishing off its 18-4 run.

Witte’s putback with 25 seconds left gave Indian Creek a short-lived, 42-40, lead as Friestad then tied the game with 16 seconds left. Friestad led the Norsemen with 14 points, and Kellie Snyder added 11.

In overtime the Timberwolves took a 46-42 lead on Jolee Larson’s steal and layup with 3:38 left, but they could only muster a single free throw the rest of the game.

“We’re just struggling offensively,” Muchmore said. “We do all right defensively. I think we’re starting to get better, but I think the girls are a bit more down because of the 3-pointer and that’s something they can blame me for.”

Both teams had numerous opportunities, from turnovers and missed layups to struggles at the free throw line with Indian Creek making 7 of 15 and Newark converting 10 of 20. But without those missed opportunities there probably wouldn’t have been a chance for O’Connell to make a shot – and make a lifelong memory.

“I had a mentor who one told me that shot isn’t just luck, it’s all the work I’ve put in,” O’Connell said. “I’ve put in a lot of time and hope to continue to get more opportunities to hit big shots like that.”

Geena Sanford scored 14 points, and Madison Bogle contributed 11 for Indian Creek.