NDA tops Madison Central in OT at state

By John Lachmann
Kypostsports@yahoo.com

   Notre Dame led by as many as 14 in the second half but needed overtime to get past Madison Central in the first round of the state tournament.

   The Pandas edged the Indians, 57-53 at Diddle Arena in Bowling Green on Thursday, advancing to the state quarterfinals. Notre Dame will face Marshall County at 8 p.m. on Friday.

   Madison Central took a one-point lead, 53-52 with 51 seconds left in the extra session, but junior forward Carlee Clemons answered with a tip-in 19 seconds later to put the Pandas ahead for good.

   The Indians missed a layup at the other end and were forced to foul sophomore guard Sydney Stallman, who drained both foul shots to give Notre Dame a 56-53 edge with 19 seconds to play.

   Clemons stole the ball on the ensuing Madison Central possession, and junior guard Paige Kellam drained a free throw with nine seconds left to ice it.

   Three players scored in double figures for the Pandas. Senior forward Olivia Voskuhl finished with 14 points, Kellam poured in 13 points and added nine rebounds and four assists, and sophomore forward Haylee Smith tallied 10 points and 14 rebounds.

   Junior guard Elly Ogle scored nine and blocked three shots before fouling out. Clemons rolled up seven points, four assists and four steals.

   Seniors Ashton Feldhaus and Larryn Brooks combined for 45 of Madison Central’s 53 points. Feldhaus finished with 26 – 13 in each half – and Brooks scored 16 of her 19 after halftime.

   Notre Dame led by one after the first quarter before running off nine straight to open the second period, including a pair of jumpers by Voskuhl.

   The Indians pulled to within three early in the third quarter, but the Pandas appeared to have blown the game open with a 14-3 run that spanned nearly six minutes that included a pair of field goals by Voskuhl, including a 3-pointer.

   But Madison Central hit a trey with four seconds remaining in the third frame to begin a 13-0 surge, after which the Indians led, 40-39 with 4:46 to play in the game.

   Voskuhl hit a jumper to give Notre Dame the lead back, and Ogle knocked down a three that made it 44-40 before the Indians answered with a trey and a layup.

   Trailing by one again, Ogle knocked down another 3-pointer to give the Pandas a 47-45 lead with 2:14 left in regulation. Brooks tied it seconds later to tie it, and after a miss by Notre Dame, Brooks put Madison Central back ahead with a layup with 31 seconds to play.

   But after a timeout, Smith hit a layup with 22 seconds remaining in the final stanza to force the extra session.

NOTRE DAME 12-11-16-10-8—57
MADISON CEN. 11-7-12-19-4—53 

   NOTRE DAME (27-5): Clemons 2 3 7, Smith 5 0 10, Ogle 3 1 9, Voskuhl 6 0 14, Kellam 5 3 13, Stallman 1 2 4. Totals 22 9 57.

   MADISON CENTRAL (29-5): Feldhaus 9 4 26, Hinkle 2 0 5, Bosley 1 1 3, Brooks 5 7 19. Totals 17 12 53.

   3-pointers: ND—Ogle 2, Voskuhl 2. MC—Feldhaus 4, Brooks 2, Hinkle.