Panther girls win in OT

Creston girls outscored Denison-Schleswig 8-0 in overtime to claim a 57-49 Hawkeye Ten Conference victory Friday night.

But, getting to overtime was adventure for the Panthers, now 3-7 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Denison-Schleswig, falling to 2-7 and 2-5, trailed 15-7 after one quarter and 45-39 going into the fourth quarter of regulation.

Creston all-state center Doryn Paup picked up her fourth foul with one second left in the third period. Despite staying in the game, she went several minutes between shot opportunities in the fourth quarter as the Monarchs slowly caught up until taking a 49-48 lead with 1:22 to play.

Still trailing by one, Creston came up with the ball on a double-team steal by Paup and senior guard Jacy Kralik. The Panthers turned it right over again on a crosscourt pass with 12 seconds left.

Denison-Schleswig was called for a foul on an illegal screen. Ten seconds later Creston had the ball for an inbounds play with only :02.7 left. Paup was open coming down the lane and was fouled trying to score after receiving the pass.

Paup made one of two free throws with :01.8 left to end regulation at 49-49.

Nevaeh Randall and Paup, Creston’s one-two scoring punch most of the night, combined for the first six points of overtime as the Monarchs were held scoreless. Kralik and Aleah Calvin each added a free throw after Denison-Schleswig was called for another illegal screen and Calvin rebounded a Monarch miss.

“We never panicked after we got behind in the fourth quarter,” Creston coach Tony Neubauer said. “Doryn got it tied to get it to overtime, and then the key was we that we kept getting (defensive) stops. They had two charges on moving screens. That helps. When Nevaeh plays like that it’s like a Bri (Fields) situation with Doryn where we can get going with some stuff.”

Paup finished with 23 points and 20 rebounds, only the second Panther in five-player girls history besides Kelsey Fields to gather 20 or more rebounds in a game. (Fields’ individual game record is 24.) Randall contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.

Keely Coen scored seven points with five rebounds and five assists. Kiana Schulz led the Monarchs with 14 points, but was held to one 3-pointer in the second half after sinking three in the opening half.

“It’s a good win,” Neubauer said. “We were 0-6, now we’re 3-1 after that. If we can get the game at Red Oak Monday we’ll be 4-7.”

Creston played at Red Oak Monday night where both teams found victory. Recaps will be in tomorrow’s edition of the CNA.

DENISON-SCHLESWIG (49) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 18 6-14 49. Kiana Schulz 5 0-0 14, Olivia Meyer 2 2-4 7, Claire Leinen 3 0-0 6, Mayah Slater 2 0-2 5, Whitlee Auen 2 1-1 5, Kaitlyn Brun 2 0-2 4, Samantha Chandler 1 2-5 4, Addison Inman 1 0-0 2, Lauren Bowker 1 0-0 2. 3-point goals — 6 (Schulz 4, Slater 1, Meyer 1). Team fouls — 18. Fouled out — Bruhn.

CRESTON (57) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 20 15-24 57. Doryn Paup 10 3-5 23, Nevaeh Randall 6 6-8 18, Keely Coen 2 2-3 7, Jacy Kralik 1 1-2 4, Ella Turner 1 1-2 3, Aleah Calvin 0 2-4 2. FG shooting — 20-49 (40.8 percent). 3-point goals — 2-15 (Coen 1, Kralik 1). Rebounds — 42 (Paup 20, Randall 8, Coen 5, Kralik 4, Calvin 3). Assists — 12 (Coen 5, Kralik 3, Randall 2, Paup 2). Steals — 10 (Randall 4, Calvin 2, Turner 2). Blocked shots — 3 (Paup 3). Turnovers — 19. Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — None.