By Chris Stevens, Editor
Three weeks between games thanks to postponements could be considered a positive the St. Elizabeth girls’ basketball team.
They were prepared for just about everything, including a spectacular scoring display by Caravel guard India Johnston.
Johnston’s game-high 32 points drove the Vikings crazy, but in the end, a Farrah White three-point shot in overtime proved to be just enough as St. E (5-0) held off the persistent Buccaneers 59-58 Thursday in a hotly contested match-up that is the easy favorite for game of the year, boys or girls.
Caravel (4-3) lead 11-7 after one, but senior guard Rory Ciszowski scored five of her eight-first half points during a Viking burst to give them a 26-23 lead at intermission.
Johnston came out guns ablazing in the third quarter, scoring 11 points in the frame on two driving three-point plays and long range misses to give Caravel a 40-37 lead after three.
St. E found their legs in the fourth quarter and eventually forced overtime tied at 51. With St. E leading 54-53, senior forward Naia Pulliam, who scored a team-high 22 points, snatched a missed shot and deposited it for a 56-53 Viking advantage. Johnston countered with a three from the left wing to knot the score, but on the next possession White took a pass from Olivia Lynch and drained the go-ahead shot with just under a minute to go. Johnston made two three throws to narrow the score to 59-58 and after Lynch missed two free throws in the final five seconds, Johnston’s game-winning attempt rimmed out and the Vikings survived.
