Lady Wolves Qualify For Divisional Tourney
When the outlook was on the line, Wolf Point senior Azalei Ackerman hit the shot to extend her the Wolves’ season.
Behind by a 46-44 margin, Ackerman connected on a three-pointer with four seconds left to lift the Wolves over Harlem, 47-46, and clinch a berth to the divisional tournament.
“I was scared that we weren’t going to get a shot up,” Ackerman said. “Juellz [Bauer] passed to me and I thought I minus well shoot it. I was hoping.”
The Wolves entered the final period with a 35-34 lead, but Harlem’s Gracie Sanchez tallied the first five points of the fourth quarter. Wolf Point’s Ameliya Doney hit a free throw, but a drive by Aaraya Mount gave the Wildcats a 41-36 advantage with five minutes to play.
Wolf Point pulled to two points on a free throw by Kashlyn Speak Thunder and a 12-footer by Keeley Blount-Henderson. After Ameliya Doney took a charge, she scored on a free throw and a drive to put the Wolves up 42-41 with 2:42 remaining.
Harlem, however, came right back on a pair of free throws by Emma Billmayer. After Blount-Henderson hit a 12-footer, a free toss by Tova Anderson tied the game at 44-44 with 1:17 remaining. Two more free throws by Jaden Blackcrow put the Wildcats ahead 46-44 with 59 seconds left.
Harlem missed from the foul stripe with 12 seconds remaining. After one shot attempt by the Wolves was blocked with 12 seconds on the clock, Ackerman fired in her game winner.
The contest started with Harlem gaining a 14-6 lead, but Wolf Point ran off the last 10 points of the opening period, including three-pointers by Blount-Henderson and Brenna Blount, for a 16-14 lead.
Three-pointers by Juellz Bauer and Ackerman increased the margin to 26-15, but Harlem struck back with the next nine points to trail 26-24 at the half.
Blount-Henderson finished with 11 points and Ackerman scored 10 points. Also scoring were Jorilynn Black Eagle with six, Doney with six, Bauer with six, Blount with five and Speak Thunder with three.
Leading Harlem were Blackcrow with 10 and Billmayer with 10.
