Wave downed in double OT

Updated: March 23, 2011 2:22PM

To say Walther Lutheran's girls left the door open from the free-throw line for a possible St. Edward victory in the championship of the Westminster Class 2A Sectional on Thursday might be an all-time understatement.

The Broncos actually held the door open for the Green Wave by making only 11 of 34 free throws. But as quickly as they did this, they slammed it shut with their quickness and ability to drive to the basket. Morgan Ransom finally shut it for good by making the second of two free throws for a four-point lead that let Walther Lutheran withstand an Enza Ranallo three-pointer at the buzzer for a 59-58 double overtime win.

"This is the first time that free-throw shooting actually could have lost the game for us," Walther Lutheran coach Todd Fisher said. "St. Edward had a great comeback in the second half and has some weapons. We did a good job getting out of here with a win."

St. Edward (21-8) rallied from a 23-13 halftime deficit to lead 39-33 with two minutes remaining but couldn't hold the ball in its delay.

Walther Lutheran (27-4) took advantage of two turnovers and a missed shot to get layups from JaQuittta Walker, Melanie Ransom and finally the game-tying shot by Isimeme Edeko with 41 seconds remaining. An over-and-back violation prevented St. Edward from getting off a shot at the game-winner with 10 seconds left.

"They're very quick and we didn't do as good a job handling the ball when we had to in regulation," said St. Edward's Callie Johnson.

In the first overtime, St. Edward made the late rally, with Rena Ranallo hitting a layup and Paige Gannon two free throws to knot the score at 47-47.

In the second overtime, Walther Lutheran's free throw problems surfaced as they had throughout regulation, as it made 5 of 13. But Walker, who had 11 points, made three free throws and a bucket and Morgan Ransom delivered a huge three-pointer with 2 1/2 minutes left to play that broke a tie and left St. Edward chasing the remainder of the contest.

St. Edward nearly pulled off one last comeback when Madeline Kerr connected on a three-pointer with her team down 58-52 and 9.6 seconds left. Then Morgan Ransom sank her clinching foul shot.

Melanie Ransom had 15 points to lead Walther Lutheran, which used its ability to drive to the basket repeatedly to put pressure on the Green Wave zone.

The Green Wave had 14 points from Enza Ranallo, 12 from Kerr and 11 from Gannon, but 4 of 23 first-half shooting from the field and a 36-18 rebounding deficit through three quarters helped Walther Lutheran establish the lead.

"The sense of urgency didn't hit us quite soon enough," St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson said. "There were a lot of fundamental things we could have improved on in the first half. It's something we'll learn going forward."

St. Edward rallied behind seven fourth-quarter points from Enza Ranallo and four from Gannon.

"The only starter we're losing is Enza Ranallo and that will be big, but the rest of the team will be back and I think we can make another run next year," Johnson said.

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