by Rusty Ellis
The Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats stunned the Cookeville Lady Cavs on a Halle Ledbetter three-pointer at the buzzer, giving LA a 51-49 victory.
The Lady Wildcats got off to a roaring start at both ends, taking a 14-2 lead a little over halfway through the first quarter. Cookeville closed on a 7-0 run to end the frame, cutting the deficit down to just 14-9 heading into the second.
Both teams traded blows back-and-forth in the second, and it was Cookeville who took a two-point lead at the half at 24-22, thanks to a Macy Hudson layup at the horn.
Neither team could make much headway in the third quarter, as Livingston outscored the Lady Cavs 9-7 to tie the game at 31 heading into the final quarter.
There, Livingston took a 44-41 lead with just under a minute-and-a-half to go on an Aleah Melton three-pointer, but after a Hudson layup and missed front-end of a one-and-one, Cookeville had took possession down by just a bucket.
A missed Cassie Gallegher three led to two free throws for Mallie-Gene Coleman, who made both. Cookeville scored quickly on their ensuing possession, and an LA turnover gave the ball right back to the Lady Cavs. Allie Gillies was fouled and made two free throws for a 47-46 lead with 20 seconds to go.
LA’s Ellie Butler then made a physical layup through contact to give Livingston a 48-47 lead, but Isabel Garcia rebounded a missed floater and put it up and in for a one-point lead with two seconds remaining.
Livingston got the final say however, as Melton made a cross-court pass to Butler, who found Ledbetter on the right wing for a buzzer-beating three to give the Lady Wildcats a 51-49 win over Cookeville.
Butler led the way with 16 points for LA, while Ledbetter finished with 11. Hudson paced Cookeville with 14 points, and Gallagher added 11. Garcia was the only other Lady Cav in double-figures with 10 points.
