Chargers win in overtime to take title
Paul Kopsky/STLhighschoolSPORTS.com | Cor Jesu's Kelly Schuering tries to hang on to the ball while being swarmed by Rock Bridge's Allison Marshall (13), Laura Jursek (top) and Orreshia Chatman.
Cor Jesu 47, Rock Bridge 42 • Victory is second in a row over top team in Webster tourney.
WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. — Cor Jesu’s basketball team had a 24-hour span to remember.
On Friday, Cor Jesu defeated conference rival St. Joseph’s Academy in the semifinals of the Webster Winter Challenge. On Saturday, the Chargers trumped that with a thrilling 47-42 overtime win over Columbia Rock Bridge to win the tournament.
“If we win state, I think that could be the only other thing that could top it,” said Meg Riley, who finished with a team-high 14 points.
Cor Jesu (17-4 overall) overcame two 2-point deficits in overtime. Kelly Schuering hit a pair of free throws with 34 seconds left to give the Chargers the lead for good at 43-42. Olivia Simon and Liz Sinclair each hit two free throws to ice the game.
“I’ve been having issues with my free throws so before the game in the warm up, I took about 50,” Schuering said.
Cor Jesu won the game from the free throw line, hitting 15 of 18 including going a perfect 10 for 10 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Rock Bridge (17-3) struggled from the line, hitting just two of eight.
Rock Bridge jumped out to a 10-4 lead after the first quarter as the Bruins’ full-court press forced 10 Cor Jesu turnovers. But, led by Sinclair’s stealth ballhandling skills, Cor Jesu adjusted and committed just 11 turnovers the rest of the way.
Meanwhile the Chargers turned up the pressure on their own man-to-man defense, forcing 20 Rock Bridge turnovers including four in overtime.
Rock Bridge led 16-12 at halftime, but Cor Jesu outscored the Bruins 16-8 in the third. Riley scored eight points and Sinclair scored four of her 10 as the Chargers pulled ahead 28-24.
Cor Jesu pushed the lead to eight. But Rock Bridge finished regulation on a 9-2 run and Amaya Williams hit an off balance 3-pointer with two seconds left to pull Rock Bridge even at 36-36.
“She hit a tough shot,” Cor Jesu coach John Neff said. “Our kids were pretty low when they got to the bench. The coaches said look, it’s a four-minute, brand-new game.”
Rock Bridge took a 40-38 lead midway through the overtime, but Kim Gorman answered with a 3-pointer to give Cor Jesu a 41-40 lead with 1:05 left.
Emily Holt scored moments later to give Rock Bridge a 42-41 lead, but those were the Bruins’ final points. Williams scored a game-high 16 and Holt added 12 for Rock Bridge, the No. 6 team in the state poll.
