Bulldogs still in hunt for share of NCC title after OT win over Algona

HAMPTON — Strong defense in the final five minutes of the game helped to propel the No. 15-rated (in Class 3A) Hampton-Dumont/CAL girls to a 48-46 North Central Conference overtime basketball win over the Algona Bulldogs Friday.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL took an 11-2 conference and a 17-2 overall slate into Tuesday’s showdown at No. 4 Clear Lake. The Lions were 12-1 in league play going into Tuesday’s game and were seeking to wrap up sole possession of the NCC title. Algona fell to 8-5 in the league and 11-8 overall.

The first meeting of the season between Friday’s Senior Night opponents at Algona came down to a last-second bucket win by Hampton-Dumont/CAL.

Friday’s game was equally close the whole way.

Algona scored the first five points of the game to take the early momentum.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL took its initial lead of the night at 9-8 on a three-point bucket by Courtney Miller midway in the frame.

The visitors battled back to go up 19-14 at the end of the opening stanza.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL then rang up the first six points of the second frame, capped off by an Avery Hanson hoop to regain a 20-19 edge.

Algona battled back to go ahead 26-25 at halftime.

The teams matched points throughout the third quarter, with the two squads entering the fourth frame deadlocked at 35-35.

Algona used a free throw by Abbey Holmes with 1:35 left in regulation to tie the game at 43-43.

It was then the Hampton-Dumont/CAL defense came to the forefront.

The visitors held the ball during the final 45 seconds of regulation in an effort to convert the winning shot, but the aggressive Hampton-Dumont/CAL defense clamped down hard. Algona wound up forcing a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer, but it was well off the mark.

Field goals by Miller and Briana Grover to begin the extra session put Hampton-Dumont/CAL ahead to stay at 47-43.

Holmes broke the long Algona scoring drought by hitting a three-ball from the left wing in the closing minute.

The Hampton-Dumont/CAL defense denied a lay-up try by the visitors in the final few seconds, with Algona committing a foul on the rebound. Miller hit the first of two free throws to conclude the scoring.

Two Hampton-Dumont/CAL players reached double figures for the night, as Lauren Meader had 12 points and Grover notched 10.

Holmes finished with a game-high 17 points for Algona.

Bulldogs 48, Algona 46, OT

Algona (11-8, 8-5)– Ashlin Young 2-10 0-0 5, Abbey Holmes 5-18 3-4 17, Alexa Chase 0-0 0-0 0, Lillian Etherington 1-5 0-1 3, Kameryn Etherington 2-4 4-7 9, Molly McCauley 2-3 2-4 7, Aliyah Buscher 1-7 2-2 5, A’Lailiah Perry 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-47 11-18 46.

Bulldogs (17-2, 11-2) –Kaci Arjes 1-3 0-2 2, Lauren Meader 5-12 2-3 12, Maci Arjes 1-4 1-2 3, Calista Polk 3-9 0-0 7, Courtney Miller 3-10 1-2 9, Avery Hanson 2-7 1-3 5, Briana Grover 5-8 0-0 10. Totals 20-53 5-12 48.

Algona       19     7     9     8     3      -                46

H-D             14   11   10     8     5      -                48

Three-point goals – Alg 9-25 (Holmes 4-9, L. Etherington 1-1, McCauley 1-1, K. Etherington 1-3, Young 1-5, Buscher 1-6); H-D 3-18 (Miller 2-5, Polk 1-5, K. Arjes 0-1, Meader 0-2, M. Arjes 0-2, Hanson 0-3). Rebounds– Alg 35, 8 off., 27 def. (Holmes 10, McCauley 8, L. Etherington 5, Buscher 4, K. Etherington 3, Young 2, Perry 2, Chase); H-D 33, 8 off., 25 def. (Grover 8, K. Arjes 7, Hanson 5, Meader 4, M. Arjes 3, Polk 3, Miller 3). Assists– Alg 7 (Holmes 3, K. Etherington 2, McCauley, Buscher); H-D 9 (Miller 3, Polk 2, K. Arjes, Meader, M. Arjes, Hanson) Steals– Alg 7 (L. Etherington 2, K. Etherington, McCauley, Buscher, Perry); H-D 7 (Miller 4, Polk, Hanson, Grover).Blocks– Alg 1 (Perry); H-D 2 (K. Arjes, Miller). Total fouls– Alg 17, H-D 16. Fouled out – None.