By Steve Fields
SHELBYVILLE — The Clay City Eels girls basketball team came up an inch or less short — according to the official — on Saturday morning in the opening game of the Class A Regional at Southwestern Shelby High School.
Clay City’s Abby Reed hit a buzzer beating shot that appeared to tie the score, but the official closest to the play, but behind the shooter, ruled it a two-point field goal, not a three, leaving Jac-Cen-Del’s Eagles with a 38-37 victory that left fans and players on both sides stunned.
While the Eels’ coaches immediately challenged the call, the large Clay City crowd stood in silence. There is no instant replay in high school basketball, other than the state championship game. The referees’ decision is final.
“I thought it was a three. Maybe it wasn’t. We’ve probably got a good angle on tape. The [official] made his judgment call. He thought that was the right call. That’s what happens in basketball. That’s what makes it such an exciting game. Two teams come out and battle each other and unfortunately somebody has to lose. I thought [the 3-pointer] was good. I guess it wasn’t,” Clay City coach Chris Ames said.
The official had two fingers extended, pointing to the 3-point line as Reed released the shot. Jac-Cen-Del coach Scott Smith was at the opposite end of the court, watching the play from behind and did not have a clear view of Reed’s feet.
“Obviously I’m watching the play where [Reed] gets loose. [Reed] catches [the ball] and she’s starting to step back. When [Reed] went to shoot, we did look [at her feet]. The referee is pointing as soon as she catches [the ball]. You see him at the time [of the shot]. It wasn’t a call after the make. [The official] was pointing as soon as she attempted the shot. I got to go with that,” Smith said.
Several minutes after the Eels and Eagles shook hands and left the court, Clay City fans were still standing, as if waiting for overtime to begin.
“We were here for the whole day. We really wanted to represent Clay City,” Ames said. It was a sudden and dramatic end to Clay City’s first sectional championship girls basketball season. The Eels finished 13-10.
“These girls never quit. This is a building process. They would have quit on each other before and they really started playing together as a team, and as a coach that is the best thing you can ask for, is they just believe in each other,” Ames said, fighting back tears.
Brielle Drelick, a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard, led Clay City with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Jac-Cen-Del was led by Becca Wagner, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, with 10 points.
Statistically, the game came down to free throws. Clay City outscored Jac-Cen-Del 34-28 from the floor, but the Eagles hit 10-of-13 free throws. Clay City got to the free throw line just four times.
Drelick gave Clay City its only lead of the game at 2-0 in the opening minute. Jac-Cen-Del took the lead for good on a 3-pointer from Brooke Gilland at 5:51 in the first quarter. Both teams played disciplined, possession basketball. The few fast-breaks came off steals.
Jac-Cen-Del led 16-11 at halftime and pulled out to a 12-point lead, 27-15, in the third quarter. The Eagles led 27-17 going into the final period.
Clay City’s Drelick scored the opening basket of the fourth and the Eels immediately went to a full-court press that caught the Eagles by surprise. That was followed by a half-court trap and the Eagles didn’t know how to break it.
“To be honest, my kids are use to playing in a gym to where I can say do this, do that in a [conversational] voice and they do it. Now that they’re in a regional you try to tell them, you’re not going to be able to hear me. You have to try to remember where to go,” Smith said.
The Eels shutout the Eagles for the first 3:45 of the fourth quarter. A two by Clay City’s Kelly McCullough and three from Roeschlein cut the deficit to 27-24 with 4:39 left in the game.
The Eels trailed by up to five points heading into the final minute of play. Allie Miller hit a 3-pointer with 30.7 seconds to play that drew the Eels within one, 34-33.
Jac-Cen-Del’s Wagner hit two free throws with 19.6 seconds on the clock, but Clay City’s Roeschlein dribbled line-to-line for a lay up that kept the margin at 36-35, with 10 seconds to play.
Again Wagner hit free throws for Jac-Cen-Del and the margin was three points, 38-35, with 7.5 seconds left. Reed’s last-second shot easily beat the buzzer, but was one-point short.
“We challenged each other and all year they’ve battle and battled. They didn’t doubt each other. The last play, even though Carmela Roeschlein is really our best shooter probably, she had enough faith in Abby Reed to throw the ball up to her,” Ames said.
