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GIRLS HOOPS: Chambersburg downs Maidens in OT


MERCERSBURG -- The Chambersburg girls basketball team headed into the locker room at halftime of the Franklin County Tip-Off consolation game down by seven against Waynesboro, with the Maidens running away with momentum.

Coach Barry Purvis had to do something.

In comes Lindsay Embly.

Chambersburg's 6-foot-1 forward was the spark they needed to overcome a 10-point deficit in the second half, and hold off Waynesboro to lock in a 51-49 overtime victory to claim third place.

But the Maidens did not go down without a fight.

With .7 seconds left in regulation, Olivia Gardenhour clawed Waynesboro back, hitting a game-saving bucket to tie the contest and force overtime.

Chambersburg's Shadai Joyner, though, found a rebound with just seconds remaining in overtime to drain a bucket for the game-winner in the Lady Trojans victory.

"They're disappointed, but that means it means something to them," Waynesboro coach Allison Steiger said. "I'm very proud; this is leaps ahead of where we were last year."

Chambersburg had a long way to go before it was able to pull off its overtime win after the Maidens held the Trojans to just five points in the second quarter.

In the second half, Chambersburg utilized Embly, who had 12 points in the third quarter alone, and ended the night with 23 total points.

"We came into the locker room (at halftime) and we were a little worried, but I had to get my head back into it and cheer on my team," Embly said. "Especially after last night. I didn't do very well, so coming into the game I had to have a new look on things and keep it positive."

Her effort in the second half led the Trojans to the comeback they needed to catch the Maidens, who at one point led by 10 points.

"I was telling them to try and finish the game with a gutsy effort," Purvis said. "They came through down the stretch and it was awful hairy at times, but they played hard and it was a gutsy effort."

Waynesboro's Chelsea Cover led the game with 27 points, including four 3-pointers. Cover also ended the half in style, forcing a turnover in the paint and getting a fast break to the basket to net a layup at the buzzer to give Waynesboro a seven-point lead.

"We played well, and everything was just kind of going our way. We had a 10-point lead at one point," Gardenhour said, "but our defense just let up."

Cat Weber, a defensive big for the Maidens, fouled out in the final two minutes of regulation, which was a major hindrance to Waynesboro's overtime efforts.

"We needed to play good defense and not force anything, which is what we we're trying to do," Steiger said. "A couple of open shots that we missed would have been the difference in that game."

Chambersburg 51, Waynesboro 49

Chambersburg (51)

Lindsay Embly 11 1-3 23, Shadai Joyner 3 2-2 8, Taylor Vrabel 3 2-4 8, Camryn Greenlee 2 1-2 6, Shayla Corwell 0 5-7 5, Liz Bishop 0 1-4 1, Alexis Sherman 0 0-3 0, Suzy Anzalone 0 0-3 0, Madison Whitfield 0 0-0 0, Liz Egolf 0 0-0 0, Kirsten Pugh 0 0-0 0. Totals — 19 12-25 51.

Waynesboro (49)

Chelsea Cover 10 3-5 27, Olivia Gardenhour 3 1-2 8, Sara Gsell 1 4-4 6, Cat Weber 2 1-3 5, Brooke Heise 0 3-4 3, Elizabeth Churchman 0 0-1 0, Mia Harris 0 0-0 0. Totals — 16 12-19 49.

Chambersburg _ 11 _ 5 _ 16 _ 14 _ 5 _ — _ 51

Waynesboro _ 12 _ 11 _ 12 _ 11 _  3_ — _ 49

3-point goals — Chbg 1 (Greenlee), Way 5 (Cover 4, Gardenhour).