HUNTSVILLE -- Ozark's situation looked bleak early in the fourth quarter against Huntsville Tuesday.
The Lady Hillbillies had fallen behind by 15 points and lost their two starting guards to fouls. But Ozark rallied and won 56-55 when Lexi McClellan made a three-point shot with 3.2 seconds remaining at the Charles Berry Gymnasium.
Girls
Ozark 56, Huntsville 55
Ozark^9^13^7^27^—^56
Huntsville^15^11^16^13^—^55
Ozark (4-0): K. Ladd 15, Melton 15, McClellan 12, H. Ladd 7, Shaffer 4, Ree 2, Yell 1.
Huntsville (2-1): Campbell 19, McCartney 10, Creek 9, Sone 5, Sulffridge 5, Jones 4, Phillips 3.
Boys
Huntsville 70, Ozark 60
Ozark^7^12^14^27^—^60
Huntsville^27^16^9^18—^70
Ozark (3-1): Wilbanks 13, Crumpacker 9, Cowans 8, Yell 8, McAnally 6, Beasley 5, Wells 2, Jenkins 1.
Huntsville (3-0): Kirk 24, Gosvener 16, Eaton 11, Garrett 10, Aguilar 6, Cain 3.
It was the only three-point attempt by McClellan, who finished with 12 points.
"I knew it wasn't over," Huntsville coach Charles Berry said of the Lady Eagles, who took a 44-29 lead early in the fourth quarter. "They lost their two best players then we quit playing defense."
Ozark (4-0) won the game despite losing senior Kylie Ladd and her sister, Hannah Ladd, to fouls in the fourth quarter. Kylie Ladd, who is committed to Arkansas State, scored 15 points while Hannah Ladd added seven. But the Lady Hillbillies held it together behind McClellan, who drove and converted a three-point play before hitting the game-winning shot.
Ozark outscored Huntsville 27-13 in the fourth quarter after trailing 42-29 after three. Olivia Melton added 15 points for Ozark while Miranda Campbell had 19 points to lead Huntsville (2-1), which beat Rogers High 48-35 on Monday night.
"You've got to give all the credit to our kids," Ozark coach Bret Nagel said. "Lexi's a good shooter and everybody did their job. Without that, the last shot wouldn't have been possible.
Tuesday's thrilling finish was not expected between two of the top girls team's in the state. Huntsville went 20-7 last spring and reached the state championship game in Class 5A before losing 56-48 to Paragould in the final. Ozark finished 27-6 after losing 47-46 to Valley View in the second round of the Class 4A state tournament.
Huntsville and Ozark are both in Class 4A now and the teams could meet again in postseason play.
Huntsville started Tuesday by feeding the ball inside to Cierra Creek, a senior center. Creek missed several shots up close but she made eight of 10 throws in the first half to give Huntsville a 26-22 lead. Creek received outside scoring help from Shelbi McCartney, who made consecutive three-pointers late in the first quarter.
Huntsville led 19-11 before Kylie Ladd countered with two free throws and a three-pointer to help cut the lead to 19-18 in the second quarter.
Boys
Huntsville 70, Ozark 60
Caleb Kirk scored 24 points to lead Huntsville past Ozark.
River Gosvener added 16 points and Jack Eaton 11 for the Eagles (3-0), who jumped to a 27-7 lead after one quarter. Kirk finished with 24 points after scoring 15 in Monday's 69-51 victory over Rogers High.
Logan Wilbanks finished with 13 points to lead the Hillbillies (3-1).
Sports on 11/26/2014