GRANITEQUARRY — Jordan Huffman and Maggie Rich were the only East Rowan starters that remained on the floor for the exciting conclusion to Tuesday’s game against Jay Robinson.
So when Bulldog guard Calli Edwards pulled up on the left wing for a potential game-winning 3-pointer with 14 seconds left, it would only make sense that the Mustangs’ two best rebounders would crash the boards.
It made sense to Huffman to sprint in the other direction.
Huffman rolled in a short jumper with nine seconds left to allow the East Rowan girls to escape with a 61-59 win Thursday.
The Mustangs led by 15 points at halftime, but a feisty Jay Robinson squad gave Randy Bingham’s team all it could handle.
“When I saw that ball release and I saw it get on the rim, I knew it was going to go in,” Bingham said. “The only thing I was worried about was they were going to beat us down the floor and score, maybe possibly shoot a 3.
“That’s the kind of crazy stuff that happened all night.”
The Mustangs never trailed and led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter. But Jay Robinson roared back and tied the game with 1:26 left on a 3-pointer by Cortney Furr, who hit three 3s in the fourth quarter and finished with 17 points.
Edwards had a chance to put the Bulldogs ahead by three with her shot from the wing, but reserve forward Brianna Mundy grabbed the rebound and passed to reserve guard Christal MacLamroc.
MacLamroc threw the ball to Huffman, who scored from the right block. Furr’s final fling to tie the game missed as the final buzzer sounded.
“I just depended on the guards to get the ball up the floor and be the person that was in front to get the ball,” said Huffman, who had 18 points and seven rebounds.
Huffman and Rich, who scored a game-high 20 points and pulled down 13 boards, were left as the only starters out on the floor for the final 4 minutes, 19 seconds.
Forward Michelle Haynes fouled out with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter, and Haley Shaw injured her right knee with 5:21 left.
With East leading 57-49, starting point guard Tiffany Ingold left the game with her fifth foul.
MacLamrock hit two free throws to put East ahead by 10 with four minutes left, but the Bulldogs scored the next 10 points.
“We talked about them being tired (at halftime),” Bingham said. “They came out and turned it up, and we went South.”
The Mustangs learned to play without Haynes in the first half. She picked up her third foul with 3:54 left in the first quarter and didn’t play the rest of the half.
Rich and Huffman didn’t allow East to suffer, though, combining for 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
Haynes’ backup, junior Kelly Kluttz, stepped in and also did an admirable job. She had five rebounds in the first half and finished the game with two points and six boards.
“She’s had virtually no experience, especially on the varsity, this was her first game,”Bingham said.
“Ironically enough, Michelle is normally our smartest player who doesn’t get into foul trouble.The kids I have to worry about are my sophomores and Kelly, they’re very agressive.”
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Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com
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