HIRAM — Kayla Kelly hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime and then drained a pair of huge free throws in the extra frame to help lead the Gainesville girls to a thrilling 69-66 win over Hiram in the first round of the Class AAAAA playoffs Tuesday night.
It was an improbable ending as Breana Fair had a 3-point attempt partially blocked with just under 3 seconds left only to have Tija Blackwell make an acrobatic save and find an open Kelly, who buried the shot as the buzzer sounded.
“It was just a tremendous play,” Gainesville coach Brenda Hill-Gilmore said. “It was just a tough, tough game. Somehow we found a way. Probably the single-most exciting game I’ve ever coached in.”
The win moved the Lady Red Elephants (19-6) into the second round. They will travel to Columbus, a 67-44 winner over Mundy's Mill, on Friday.
Early on it didn’t look like the Lady Red Elephants would be in any position for late-game dramatics. They trailed by 11 in the first quarter courtesy of eight early turnovers.
But they rallied to pull within 16-11 by the end of the period and went to halftime tied at 28 with the Lady Hornets (23-5). Hiram took a 42-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
But Gainesville fell behind quickly in the fourth quarter and trailed by as many as six late in regulation before staging the comeback. In the overtime period, Hiram’s Aliyah Thomas hit a 3-pointer to open the extra period but Blackwell, Kelly, and Taylor Hawks combined for four baskets to run out to a 67-66 lead.
Kelly hit her two free throws in the final seconds and a couple of Hiram 3-pointers failed to find the net to preserve the come-from-behind win.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group. They never quit at any time during the game,” Hill-Gilmore said.
Hawks and Kelly both finished with double-doubles. Hawks had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and added six assists. Kelly had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Shikiya Brown added 19 points and Fair had four points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Lady Red Elephants.
Macey McBrayer had 21 points to lead Hiram, which was the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAAA. Thomas finished with 17 points for the Lady Hornets.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/2/370619/class-aaaaa-playoffs-ghs-girls-rally-for-improbable-ot-win-over-hiram