SOUTH BEND – Claire Tanner made two clutch free throws with 5.8 seconds left and Mary Kate Flynn’s defensive stop in the final second led the Lady Pilgrims to a thrilling 47-46 victory over South Bend Washington Tuesday night in the season opener for both squads.
After a Tanner reverse layup to start the final period, Plymouth led by five only to see Washington’s Mila Reynolds score seven of her nine fourth-quarter points during a 10-2 Lady Panthers run to take a three-point lead with 3:50 remaining in the game. Still down one with 1:42 to play, Plymouth’s Sydni Weir found Clare Sheedy underneath and the Lady Pilgrims regained the lead, 43-42, with 1:42 left.
The lead changed three times over the next 1:09 and after Washington rebounded its own missed free throw with :33 on the clock, missed the front end of a one-and-one with 19.8 to play, giving PHS the ball – and some life.
With fouls to give, the Lady Panthers did so and called timeout with 8.8 showing on the clock to set up their defense. Plymouth inbounded and got the ball to Alaina Clady at the free throw line. The senior post player found a cutting Tanner, who was fouled in the act of shooting, then calmly sank both foul shots for the one-point lead with 5.8 seconds remaining.
The Panthers pushed the ball up court and found Mila Reynolds in close, but Flynn played solid defense and partially blocked Reynolds’ shot attempt as the clock ran out.
Plymouth travels to New Prairie Thursday. The first four games for the Lady Pilgrims are on the road.
PLYMOUTH 47, SB WASHINGTON 46
At South Bend
PLYMOUTH: Claire Tanner 5 2-2 13, Emma Cook 3 0-0 6, Mary Kate Flynn 0 1-2 1, Tallulah Gault 0 0-0 0, Kenzie Dejarnatt 0 0-0 0, Clare Sheedy 4 0-0 8, Alaina Clady 3 2-4 8, Sydni Weir 5 0-1 11. TOTALS: 20 5-9 47.
SB WASHINGTON: Asia Phillips 0 0-1 0, Rashunda Jones 5 4-9 16, Camiya Robinson 1 0-2 3, Nyah Porter 0 1-2 1, Amiyah Reynolds 4 1-2 9, Mila Reynolds 7 3-5 17, Francisca Galicia 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 17 9-21 46.
Score by quarters
Plymouth 8 19 33 47
SB Wash. 11 18 30 46
3-pointers: Plymouth 2 (Tanner, Weir), SB Washington 3 (Jones 2, Robinson). Fouls (fouled out): Plymouth 18 (none), SB Washington 12 (none)
Records: Plymouth 1-0, SB Washington 0-1
