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Olivia Mottern breaks Southern Fulton scoring record


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Just over a year ago, Southern Fulton's Olivia Mottern stepped up to the foul line against McConnellsburg and released a shot for the 1,000th point of her career. And it only seems fitting that Mottern broke Macey Hollenshead's 2014 all-time scoring record in the same manner.

With 7.7 seconds left on the clock in a Sideling Hill League/Intern-County Conference game against Tussey Mountain, Mottern stepped to the charity stripe with a milestone in front once again.

Bounce. Bounce. Shoot.

Swish. 

"There was a good bit of pressure, and the fact that I missed the first (foul shot), it was just like, 'Oh gosh,'" Mottern said. "But it kind of took me back to a year ago that this is where I was for my 1,000th, so it is pretty cool."

Mottern's record-breaking shot aided the Indians in a 40-35 win over Tussey Mountain.

Despite averaging nearly 20 points per game, Mottern's feat of 14 points to break Hollenshead's record was almost too much. With less than three minutes left in the game, Mottern still needed four points to tie the record, and had scored just two so far in the second half. But a pair of free throws and a fast-break layup in the last two minutes of play tied the all-time scoring record.

Mottern was fouled shortly after tying the record, but the shot bounced off the rim. Her second attempt, though, was nothing but net.

"They played really tough defense on me, and I knew it was going to be really close," Mottern said, "but I just tried the entire game to work really hard and to try and make my shots count. I did struggle a bit and that was frustrating, especially when the numbers went lower, it was definitely like, 'Man, I only need to get two more,' but I was really happy with how I pushed through."

Southern Fulton's win over Tussey Mountain was important beyond Mottern's scoring record, because the Indians had a tough loss to the Titans earlier this season and needed a rebound after two straight defeats this weekend.

"There was a little bit of nerves going into this game, especially after two straight losses," Southern Fulton coach Meagan Mellott said. "We knew this would be a big one for us if we just pushed through defensively, and they did that. They buckled down defensively and focused on rebounding and I think that's what won the game."

NOTES: Mottern finished with 15 points ... Drew Gordon led in rebounds with 11 boards, while Lindsey Hollenshead had six points, 10 rebounds and four assists ... Emily Bradshaw was the team's second leading scorer with nine points.