Lady Buffs fall on buzzer beater

By Mike Smith
For The Capital Journal
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 - 12:04:00 am CST

MISSION — Cassie Prue beat the clock and broke the Stanley County girls basketball team’s collective heart.

Prue’s buzzer-beating basket enabled Todd County to escape with a 58-56 thriller Tuesday at the Ben Reifel Auditorium. The Lady Buffs had a stirring comeback spoiled and saw their losing streak extend to four straight.

Also wasted was one of the greatest scoring outbursts in team history. Brandi Prince erupted for 34 points, 16 coming in the fourth quarter. Her three-point play with 12 seconds to go forged a 56-56 tie. But Prue, who had missed two free throws with about a minute to go that would have broken a 53-all tie, hit a layup as time expired to avoid overtime and claim the win.

Prince’s 34 points was the fifth most points ever scored by a Lady Buff in single game. Carissa Rathbun had 41 points in 1995 for the team record. Sam Ostarello tallied 39 and 37 in two games last season and new Hall of Famer Tina Stroup hung 35 points in a 1990 contest.

But scoring balance was not there for the visitors. Kori Nutter had a career-high eight points but no other Lady Buff had more than six points.

Stanley County trailed by seven points, 49-42 with 3:30 left to go in the game when Prince scored eight consecutive points in the next 60 seconds for a 50-49 Lady Buff lead. Todd County would go 5-of-10 from the line in the last two minutes of the game to keep hope alive. Stanley County outscored the Lady Falcons from the field but the winning edge came from the free throw line. Todd County went 19-of-44 from the line while the Lady Buffs scored 13 on half as many trips. There were 50 fouls called with four players fouling out.

Stanley County falls to 4-9 on the season. They play the second of a six-game road swing on Friday as they take on Lyman at the Lyman Gardens. Saturday is the conclusion of the Southern Plains tournament with Stanley Country playing South Central in the third place game. Game time is about 4 p.m. in White River.

Stanley County 12 22 35 56

Todd County 14 25 40 58

Stanley County scoring: Kendra Karst 1 1-2 4, Brandi Prince 13 5-7 34, Sara Sweetman 1 4-6 6, Haley Hand 0 0-1 0, Kori Nutter 3 1-2 8, Tori Deal 0 1-2 1, Kelly Sweetman 0 1-2 1, Tara Russell 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 13-22 56.

Todd County scoring: Lane Halligan 4 7-9 15, Marissa Scott 3 2-6 9, Whitney Ballinger 2 1-4 5, Cassie Prue 4 0-5 9, Samantha Spotted Tail 2 6-12 10, Tiffany Hernandez 0 0-3 0, Morgan Wright 0 0-1 0, Natasha Herman 3 3-4 10. Totals: 18 19-44 58

Team statistics: 3-pointers—Prince 3, Nutter, Karst, Scott, Prue, Herman; FG percent—SC 35.8 (19-of-53), TC 43.9 (18-of-41); Rebounds—SC37 (Karst 9), TC 28 (Ballinger 6); Turnovers—SC 27, TC 22; Total fouls—SC 28, TC 22 (S. Sweetman, Amanda Lounsbury, Halligan, Ballinger out).

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