Lady Indians lose back-to-back heartbreakers

Berkeley Springs lost two tough game last week. First, after fighting their way back, they lost to Martrinsburg 59-57 on Monday, February 5 and then led East Hardy for most of the night on Thursday, February 8 in Baker, before falling 47-42 in overtime.

"Sure it is disappointing," Berkeley Springs coach Dale McCumbee said of the two loses. Those were both games we could have won. It is always tough to lose games like that. We were right there, had our chances but couldn't quite close the door."

The week started with Martinsburg visiting Berkeley Springs. The Lady Bulldogs were seeking revenge after last years lost to the Indians. And, though it didn't come easy Martinsburg escaped with the 2-point victory, avenging the loss in 2006.

The Indians, who have struggled at times this year in the opening quarter, fell behind their Berkeley County rival 20-8 after the opening eight minutes of action. Amber Booher kept Berkeley Springs that close, scoring 6 of her 12 points in the opening stanza.

"Like I said last week, I can't quite put my finger on it," McCumbee said of his team's slow start. It has cost us several times this year and was certainly a factor tonight."

While the Indians were struggling in the first quarter, Martinsburg was on fire, canning four shots from behind the 3-point line and four other baskets to take the early lead.

The two teams each scored fourteen points in the second quarter, with Rebecca Trump leading the way for Indians with 6 points. Alex Tamez notched 4 points, Ashely Hovermale 3 and Kayla Hill 2.

Trailing 34-22 at the half, Berkeley Springs was unable to dent the Bulldog lead in the third quarter and still trailed 48-35 heading into the final quarter of action. Martinsburg quickly built the lead to 15 points, 50-35 on field goal from Dakeena Marshall, before a 3-point basket by Trump ignited an Indian rally.

Booher followed up the Trump 3-point basket with a bucket of her own to cut the margin to 50-40.

Martinsburg built the lead to 54-42, before another 3-pointer from Trump cut the Bulldog lead to single digits. Trump followed up with another 2-point bucket, before teammate Ashely Hovermale canned a 3-point bomb, cutting the Bulldog lead to four points.

Kelsey's McCoy's free throw made the score 54-51, before Shaniece Nunn ended the Indian run with a pair of free throws.

Trailing 56-51, Berkeley Springs went on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 57-57, with 13 second remaining in the game.

Martinsburg's Jamile Hill got inside the Berkeley Springs defense on the ensuing Bulldog possession and scored with 6 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a 59-57 lead. Berkeley Springs called a timeout and got the ball into the hands of Tamez. She got off a 3-point shot for the win, but the ball was just off the mark and Martinsburg escaped with the win.

"You've got to be proud of the way this team fought back," McCumbee said. They were down by 15 points with about six minutes remaining in the game and had a chance to win it. So, even though there is disappointment, there is something positive to take away for the loss.

Trump led all scorers with 20 points, Hovermale added 14 and Booher 12. Tamez scored 7 points, while Kayla Hill and McCoy rounded out the offense with 2 points each.

Sharonda McDowell and Iesha Robinson led the Bulldogs with 11 points apiece.

Berkeley Springs needed to forget about the loss as quickly as possible, since they had to travel to East Hardy for a game on Thursday, February 8. The Indians were looking to avenge a loss to the Cougars suffered in the finals of the Tip-Off Classic.

Unlike the game against Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs kept the game close after the opening quarter of action, and trailed by only two points, 14-12.

The Cougars scored the first bucket of the second stanza for a 16-12 lead, before Hovermale buried a 3-point shot to get the Tribe to within one point of the lead.

Back-to-back field goals from Booher and Tamez gave Berkeley Springs the lead 19-18, before East Hardy answered with a 3-pointer to take their final lead of the half, 21-19.

The Indians ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 28-23 lead into the half-time break.

Berkeley Spring maintained their composure in the third quarter and built the lead to 38-32 heading into the final quarter of regulation.

After a free throw by the Cougars, Tamez gave the Indians their biggest lead of the game 40-33, at the five minute mark of the fourth quarter. Molly Look quickly cut into the Indian 7-point lead, canning a pair of 3-point shots, sandwiched around a 2-point bucket from Trump, to get the Courgars to within three points of the lead.

Trailing 42-39 with 1:18 remaining in regulation, East Hardy was able to tie the game and force overtime. Holly Wilkins scored a 2-point basket, before teammate Falon Fansler made one of two free throws with 2 second remaining to tie the game.

East Hardy outscored Berkeley Springs 5-0 in the overtime period, to secure the 47-42 victory.

"We didn't do a very good job of protecting the basketball down the stretch," said McCumbee. Hopefully we learned something that we can use as we move forward.

Tamez led the Indians with 15 points and 9 rebounds. Trump scored 9 points, Hovermale 8, Courtney Kesecker 4, while McCoy, Sarah Risinger and Booher added 2 points each.

The Indians fell to 11-10, with the two losses.