By Michael Minnich
mminnich@newstribune.info
tribune sports editor
RIDGELEY — The postseason often means memorable games.
Put this one on your list.
A pair of Jess Haynes free throws with five seconds left in the fourth quarter completed a comeback from 13 points down to make the Berkeley Springs Lady Indians sectional champions, 58-57, in girls' basketball action at Frankfort High School Friday night.
Frankfort led for most of the game and all of the second half until the Haynes free throws.
What makes the loss even tougher to take for Frankfort was what happened after that: the clock failed to start, and the referees took two seconds off and had Frankfort inbound on the sideline at mid-court.
That pass was stolen by BSHS's Shauni Stevens to seal the victory.
Amber Bouher had 26 points, 20 in the second half, to lead Berkeley Springs.
Mariah Miller led a balanced Frankfort attack with 13 points.
A cold start saw just one basket in the first few minutes of the game: a layup by Frankfort's Saydi Whiteman.
Frankfort built a 7-2 lead on a Aira Whiteman jump shot, but Berkeley Springs scored a quick six to take an 8-7 advantage and force FHS coach Erin McKenzie to take a timeout.
The Lady Falcons led after the first quarter, 11-10.
Frankfort took a three-point lead on a Courtney Dolly basket, then Berkeley Springs picked up four points from the free throw line to take the lead.
The Lady Indians turned up the heat with a full-court press and were able to force several turnovers, but the Lady Falcons also gained an advantage on the glass, getting a pair of second-chance baskets to move ahead 17-14 with 6:13 left in the half.
Two straight BSHS buckets gave them a 18-17 lead at the 4:51 mark, but FHS tightened the screws, going on a 8-0 run to close the half.
Frankfort led 25-18 at intermission, thanks in large part to eight second-chance points in the second quarter.
Mariah Miller led all scores at the half with seven points for Frankfort; Whiteman and Dolly each had six.
Amber Bouher had six points to top Berkeley Springs.
The Lady Falcons took their first double-digit lead of the night, 29-18, with 6:58 left in the third quarter on a short Whiteman turn-around jumper.
Berkeley Springs closed to within seven, 31-24, on a Deidra Burch basket, but Frankfort responded with a 7-1 run to take a 38-25 lead with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
FHS led 43-33 after the third quarter.
BSHS pulled within eight on a Bouher three-point play with 6:31 left. Frankfort led, 46-38.
After a flurry of free throws, Berkeley Springs blew a golden opportunity to pull within five points at the 5:05 mark when Burch missed a breakaway layup.
She quickly made amends, though, hitting a three-pointer from the right elbow and then a tough jump shot under pressure to shrink the FHS lead to 52-50 with 3:37 left in regulation.
Berkeley Springs had three shots to tie the game or take the lead, but could not convert.
Then Whiteman was fouled with 2:25 left, hit the first free throw and missed the second. Christine Ingram came up with a huge offensive rebound, which led to a Whiteman layup to push the Frankfort lead to five with 2:21 left.
With 1:26 left, Maddie Shambaugh took a charge on Burch, which was Burch's fifth and final foul.
BSHS wouldn't quit. Jess Haynes' three-point play cut the lead back to two with 1:13 left.
After a Miller free throw, Leslie Yost canned the tying three-pointer for Berkeley Springs with 30 seconds to go.
Whiteman hit the first of two at the line, and Frankfort led 57-56 with 24 seconds remaining.
After the game, one of the Berkeley Springs coaches taunted the Frankfort student section, putting a bitter cap on what was a tremendous game.
Each team won on their home floor in the regular season: Frankfort by 12 and Berkeley Springs by 11.
The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission has tweaked the postseason format this year.
Instead of eight sectional champions advancing to the state tournament in Charleston, two teams from each of the four regions will make the trip to the Civic Center.
The winner of each section faces the runner-up from the other section in the region.
In the bottom half of Region II, No. 1 seed Lincoln hosted No. 2 seed Braxton County Friday night. No score was available at press time.
Frankfort (15-9) travels to the winner of the Lincoln-Braxton County game.
Berkeley Springs (18-5) hosts the loser of Lincoln-Braxton County.
The two regional finals are Wednesday, March 4.
Keyser, W.Va. —
