Stroud’s girls were in a difficult situation against McLoud Friday night.
They had the ball, but trailed by four points when JadynYoung was fouled with less than five seconds left in the game.
Unless they could manufacture a four-point play, they would lose for the second time this season.
With Young headed to the line, coach Jake Jobe called time and laid out the plan.
“We told Jayden that she was going to make the first one and as soon as she gets the ball back she’s going to shoot the second,” he said.
The plan was for Young to brick the second shot, the Lady Tigers’ get the rebound and put up another shot.
Enter seniors Katlyn Hughey and Kai-lee Coleman.
“Katyln Hughey is one of the best offensive free throw rebounders I have ever coached,” Jobe said. “She tips it out with one hand, we make the pass and Kailee Coleman hits a huge shot to give us a chance to play in overtime.”
Coleman hoisted her three-pointer from in front of the Stroud bench, which erupted as the ball swished the nylon at the horn.
After trailing by 11 in the second half, Stroud was tied at 54 and headed into overtime, which turned out to be as dramatic as regulation.
McLoud led 65-64 when Stroud brought the ball down on what turned out to be its final possession.
Young took the ball near the free throw line and drove the left side of the lane against Cheyenne Banks, McLoud’s 6-2 center.
Young got just enough clearance to make a layup with 10 seconds left.
McLoud had enough time to get off a final, potentially winning, shot at the horn, but it hit the rim, bounced up, hit the rim again and fell to the floor.
“There at the end, I just told Jayden to be strong,” Jobe said. “She took the ball right into their really good post player and made a good contested shot to give us a chance.
“We got back on defense and got lucky they missed one there at the end.”
The dramatic comeback was the second of the season for the Lady Tigers, now 5-1. They trailed Pawhuska by 17 in the third quarter at the Agra tournament and came back to win in overtime.
“We’re kind of the Comeback Kids right now,” Jobe said. “I wish they would find a way to get us a lead early and keep it.”
Stroud is off through the holiday break and resumes play at home on Jan. 4 against Cashion.
The Lady Tigers lost their opener to Prague, now ranked No. 11 in Class 3A.
“We came out our first night and shot the ball terribly and Prague gave us a lot of problems.
“We’ve won five in a row since then. Every day, we’re getting a little better and making more and more open shots.
“These girls just work so hard. I’m really proud of them and ready to move into the second semester now.”
In the boys’ game, which was played first to accommodate McLoud’s homecoming, Stroud was in the game until the middle of the third quarter, when McLoud pulled away for a 54-43 win.
“We played with everybody for a half,” said coach Brad Moody. “We just have to find a way to put that second half with it.
“They’re working hard and competing. We just have to put two halves together.”
Chayton Ellick led the Tigers with 22 points, including four three-pointers in the second half.
It was homecoming for McLoud and for Moody, a former McLoud player and coach making his first appearance on the visitors’ bench.
“It was a little weird being on the other side,” he said. “But it’s nice to come home.”