By BEAU WICKER
For most of the game it looked like Logansport would cruise to a home-opening win Friday night at the Berry Bowl.
But after a McCutcheon comeback, the Berries needed two Jasmine Penny free throws with 8.9 seconds remaining to help them pull out a 38-37 win.
The Mavericks (0-1) had a chance to win on their last possession, but the Berries (2-0) forced an over-and-back violation with 1.0 second left to secure the victory.
Logan coach Jerry Hoover credited Penny, a DePaul recruit, for coming through with the game on the line.
“The player gets the last four points and wins it for us. When we had to have her play, she played,” he said.
Penny was sent to the line on an off-the-ball foul in the post.
“I think it was a very good call,” Penny said.
“I think it could have been [called] all night long,” Hoover said. “This isn’t NFL football.”
McCutcheon coach Jeff Knoy had a different viewpoint.
“They weren’t calling that all game though, instead they were letting them play,” he said. “It’s a tough call at the end, but on the road that happens sometimes.”
The Berries jumped out to a 9-0 lead and the Mavs didn’t get on the board until 2:30 remained in the first quarter. Logan led 23-7 near the midway point of the second quarter and 30-15 near the midway point of the third.
It was the Mavs’ season opener while the Berries recorded a win at Lafayette Central Catholic earlier in the week.
“Our kids were a little tight, a little nervous,” Knoy said. “We have a lot of sophomores who are playing.”
But after their slow start, the Mavericks stormed back, getting within 32-37 after the third-quarter horn sounded and tying it up at 34-all about midway through the fourth. They took their first lead on a Breanna Horn free throw with 3:09 remaining in the game.
The Mavs’ trapping defense started getting to the Berries in the second half to key their comeback.
“That was our plan and that was our plan coming into the game is to trap them and get them more up-tempo,” Knoy said. “The first half they did a good job of taking care of the basketball. The second half they got a little tired I think, we got some turnovers, got a couple steals, made a couple shots — that always helps obviously.”
Said Penny, “We need to have better passing. That’s our main problem. If we get our passing better, then we won’t have so many turnovers and then they wouldn’t have got so many layups.
“We need to be more patient.”
McCutcheon took a 37-34 lead on a Bethany Hainje field goal 3:00 left. Penny got the Berries to within one on a basket with :56 remaining. She was fouled on the play but missed the free throw.
McCutcheon’s Lakan Hasser-Smith missed two foul shots with :47 left. Logan’s LeAnn Hileman had a 3-point attempt go in-and-out, but the rebound went out-of-bounds off of a McCutcheon player. Logan called a timeout with 23 seconds remaining, and Penny was fouled on the ensuing possession before making the game-winning free throws.
“That’s a good team,” Hoover said of McCutcheon. “We’re just lucky to get away with it, that’s all.”
Penny led the Berries with 16 points and 11 rebounds. LuQueena Roe added eight points. Jen Tierney had five points and 10 boards.
Hasser-Smith led the Mavericks with 18 points. Jessica Valley, a junior who has verbally committed to play at Indiana State, added 13.
The two squads could meet again in their sectional, which will be held at McCutcheon.
“That’s what we told the kids, that’s a sectional team that you’re probably gonna have to see again, that’s for sure,” Knoy said. “Our sectional’s loaded, and Logan fits right into that group.”
