GIRLS’ HOOPS: Trinity Lutheran rallies to edge Pioneers 42-41

By GREG BURTON

Special to Southern Indiana Preps

CLARKSVILLE — For most of the game Saturday night at the Larkin Center against Trinity Lutheran, it appeared that Providence had recovered from its two-point overtime loss to Salem on Friday.

The Pioneers took command of the game in the second period. They turned a close game into a nice six-point margin at halftime, 19-13.

Then in the third period, the Pioneers really got things rolling, extending their advantage to as many as 13 points on three occasions. The last time was at 33-20 just before the close of the third period.

However, Class A No. 8 Trinity Lutheran (7-1) scored the final two points of the third quarter, then outscored their hosts 20-8 in the final eight minutes to eke out a 42-41 victory over Providence.

Trinity Lutheran never led in the second half until the very end. That is when Jodi Goecker, standing at 5-foot-4, got a rebound in the lane, and put the ball back up and in with 0.3 seconds to play in regulation.

This culminated a challenging, tough weekend for Providence (4-3), which lost both games by a total of three points.

Providence appeared to have weathered the storm and was on track to emerge victorious against the Cougars. But Trinity Lutheran had gotten to within two points at 38-36 with 36 seconds to play.

Then Providence’s Hannah Wolford sank two free throws to extend the lead to four. Trinity Lutheran’s Sydney Janes countered with two free throws of her own to get back to within two at 40-38.

Wolford then sank one free throw, making the score 41-38. The Pioneers then purposely fouled Goecker with 14.1 seconds remaining. She sank both free throws, making it a one-point game at 41-40.

Providence needed to hit free throws to secure the game, but missed two, giving the ball to Trinity Lutheran for the last shot.

Janes missed a field goal, and that’s when Goecker grabbed the missed shot and put in the game-winner.

Wolford led the Pioneers in scoring with 20 points. Janes, a 6-1 freshman, was held scoreless for the first half, but put in 13 points in the second half to lead her team in scoring. Abby Hackman also reached double figures with 10 points for Trinity Lutheran.

Providence will be at home on Tuesday as it takes on Class A No. 5 South Central (4-2).

TRINITY LUTHERAN 42, PROVIDENCE 41

Trinity Lutheran     6     7    9  20—42

Providence               5  14  14     8—41

Trinity Lutheran (7-1): Jodi Goecker 4, Piper Acton 8, Savannah Harweger 3, Sydney Janes 13, Abby Hackman 10, Savanna Setty 0, Maddie Bell 4.

Providence (4-3): Sierra Brooks 8, Natalie Boesing 9, Hannah Wolford 20, Brinley Prather 2, Brigid Welch 0, Kaylee Kaiser 2, Bailey Brown 0.

3-point field goals: Trinity Lutheran 2 (Janes 2); Providence 2 (Wolford 2).

Total fouls: Trinity Lutheran 16, Providence 13.

Fouled out: none.

Junior varsity: Trinity Lutheran 34, Providence 12.