Lady Celtics Reach Final Four with 60-58 Overtime Win

On March 6th, the Archbishop O'Hara High School girls basketball team defeated the Staley Falcons in their State Quarterfinal game played in Warrensburg by a score of 60-58. _____ O'Hara hadn't reached the final four since 1989. _____ Behind by four points with less than 40 seconds in regulation time, Hailey Houser put in two baskets to tie the score at 46-46. _____ In the overtime period Brynn Williamson twice hit three-pointers for the Falcons, but the Celtics responded mostly with free throws, six by Cameron Randle, three by Alex Smith, and one by Ashley Clark. _____ O'Hara cashed in on 23 free throws altogether in the game. _____ Earlier in the game, the Celtics had a ten point lead at 16-6 and the Falcons had a six point lead at 36-30. _____ The O'Hara defense was excellent, however the Falcons used the long ball to stay with the Celtic squad. They had ten successful three-point shots in the contest, two in each of the first three quarters, one in the fourth, and three in overtime! But even that wasn't enoughto win. _____ Cameron Randle and Alex Smith led in the Celtic scoring with 17 points and 16 points respectively. Hailey Houser and Ashley Clark were also in double figures. _____ The only quarter in which the Falcons outpointed the Celtics was the third quarter when they put up 14 to O'Hara's 5, but the Celtics rallied from that setback. _____ After the initial first two Falcon free throws of the game, Staley never took the lead until well into the third quarter. Then it was nip and tuck the rest of the way. _____ Next on the 23-6 Celtics' schedule is Webb City in the State Semifinals on March 12.