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Spartans edge Tornadoes in OT

By JOHN SCHWARB

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 13, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- During free-throw shoot-arounds at practice, Lakewood senior Ashley Sumbry always shoots last. She figured such pressure might come in handy one night.

Friday was that night, and Sumbry delivered to give the Spartans their biggest win of the season, 50-49 over Clearwater in overtime.

Lakewood trailed by one after Dominique Redding hit a three-pointer in traffic to put Clearwater up 49-48 with 14 seconds left. When the Spartans got the ball back, Qunisha Rush found Sumbry under the basket. A layup fell short with four seconds left.

Sumbry drew a foul on the play, however, from Clearwater's Anisha Turman, and drilled both free throws in a manner belying her 62 percent season average from the line.

Redding got off an open jumper at the buzzer but missed, leaving Lakewood players and fans to mob Sumbry at midcourt.

"I wasn't nervous at all," Sumbry said. "I was happy (Turman) fouled me, but I wish I would have made the shot."

But the free throws were true and could prove even larger come district tournament time. Lakewood improved to 6-2 in Class 4A, District 11 (15-4 overall), pulling into a tie for second with Clearwater (16-5, 6-2). Lakewood lost Monday to district leader Largo, who plays at Clearwater on Thursday.

"I wish this was for the district championship," Lakewood coach Eddie Jackson said. "This district is going to be some kind of war."

Lakewood survived Friday despite scoring just six points in the fourth quarter. With 6:52 remaining, the Spartans hit their final field goal of regulation to take a 40-29 lead, but the Tornadoes came all the way back, tying the game at 42 with 29 seconds remaining when Kasie Muchler banked in a three-pointer, her third of the quarter.

The Spartans also threatened to pull away in the third quarter, scoring six consecutive points at the outset to go up 25-17. But the Tornadoes responded with threes on their next three possessions.

Redding scored 23 to lead all players while Rush scored 18 for Lakewood.

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