Triad’s Cati LeVan goes up for a basket in this file photo. LeVan poured in 27 points during Monday’s overtime upset triumph at Indian Lake.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The injury-depleted Triad girls basketball team came through with a 52-51 overtime upset victory at Indian Lake on Monday.
“It was a great team effort,” said Lady Cardinal coach Jeff Merklin. “We were already down three players with injuries and today one of our starters was out with the flu.
“That left us with only seven players in uniform,” he said. “Of that number, two are exchange students who have never played basketball before this season.
“So to go up to Indian Lake and get a win shows what a really good group of girls we have this year.”
The Lady Cardinals held a 15-13 edge after the first quarter and took a 23-22 margin into the halftime break.
The contest remained a tight battle with Triad holding a 37-31 lead going into the final eight minutes of regulation.
The Lakers, who took a 9-3 record into the game, grabbed the lead during the fourth quarter.
Triad’s Bailey Perry, though, hit a basket late in the period to send the game into the extra session tied at 45-all.
One of the Lady Cardinals’ exchange students, Nina Hesterman, knocked down a basket late in overtime to give Triad a three-point lead.
The Lady Cardinals (5-6) were able to hold on down the stretch to notch the victory.
Cati LeVan led Triad with 27 points along with five assists, while senior post Makenzie Cauley dropped in 14 points.
“We also got much needed quality minutes from freshman Haidyn Sarrazine and our other exchange student, Anna DeLaunay,” said Merklin.
Frani LeVan played a strong game running the Cardinal point.
She scored four points with a trio of assists and a like number of rebounds.
The Lady Cards will host Graham Wednesday night in another non-conference tilt.
Triad
C. LeVan 9-6-27, Cauley 5-0-14, Perry 2-0-5, F. LeVan 2-0-4, Hesterman 1-0-2, Sarrazine 0-0-0, DeLaunay 0-0-0. Totals 19-6-52.
Three-point goals: Cauley 4, C. LeVan 3, Perry 1.
Indian Lake
Young 10-5-25, Golliday 5-2-14, Barlow 1-2-4, Hill 2-0-4, Shelton 2-0-4. Totals 20-9-51.
Three-point goals: Golliday 2.