By: Joe Shouse, Sports Writer
WOODBURN – In a tight state line rivalry the Woodlan Warriors squeaked past Wayne Trace 45-44 in girls’ action two days after Christmas. The game was settled in the closing seconds when Woodlan hit some crucial free throws.
The first half belonged to the home team scoring 32 points. The second half saw the Raiders hold the Warriors to just 13 to make the contest in doubt to the end. The Lady Warriors took a 15-11 lead after one quarter of play. The second period saw Woodlan expand their margin to nine at 22-13. However, the Raiders would respond to cut the lead to five on back-to-back baskets from Lexi Moore and Gracie Shepherd. Most of the contest would see Woodlan answer any of the Raiders come-back efforts. Woodlan would have an answer in the second period with a 10-2 run to go in at the break on top 32-19.
Trailing by as many as 15 in the third period the Raiders would not quit. A three-point goal by Caroline Winans followed by a Lexi Moore bucket along with two Shepherd free throws pulled the Raiders a little closer –still trailing 34-26. Wayne Trace would continue to chip away on baskets from both Caroline and Careen Winans. After trailing by as many as 15 the red, white, and blue were within striking distance, trailing by three 34-31.
Woodlan’s Taylor Kneubuhler finished the third period scoring a three-point goal giving the Warriors a little breathing room; leading 37-31 heading into the final quarter. The Lady Raiders would again mount a comeback early in the fourth, using an 8-2 run to cut the Woodlan lead to just two 39-37. But, like earlier in the contest, Woodlan would answer with the next five points on three Kneubuhler free throws and a Kaitlyn Crosby bucket to push the Warriors back to a 44-37 advantage.
The never-say-die Raiders would not give in as the Paulding County visitors would respond with a Lexi Moore hoop and two free throws each from Shepherd and Careen Winans. The Raiders were down just one 44-43 in the final minute.
In the closing seconds Woodlan’s Addie Goheen connected on a free throw to push the Warriors up to two 45-43. With just a couple of tics remaining on the clock Careen Winans was fouled going to the hoop. Needing both free throws to tie Winans hit the first but came up short on her second attempt to end the game.
The Raiders managed to hit 10-16 from the free throw line while the Warriors connected on 17-19. Leading scorer in the contest was Taylor Kneubuhler with 24 including 14-15 from the free throw line. The Raiders won the rebound battle 31-20 but committed 20 miscues to 13 for Woodlan.
Other scorers for the winners were Addie Goheen with six and a trio with five each including Gabi Klopfenstein, Brooke Kneubuhler and Kaitlyn Crosby.
The Raiders were led by Lexi Moore who chipped in 16 to go along with 16 rebounds. Others scoring for the Raiders were Gracie Shepherd adding 10, Careen Winans nine, Caroline Winans seven and Harper Myers with two.
