BISMARCK-The shorter free throws to ice the win were harder for Mercedes Baumgartner than the long trey that forced overtime.
The senior came through in both situations as Bismarck Legacy edged Fargo Davies 62-56 in overtime Thursday in the quarterfinals of the North Dakota Class A girls state basketball tournament.
Baumgartner hit a long 3-pointer from the left wing with seven seconds remaining in regulation, tying the score at 56 to force the overtime. Legacy got a quick 3-point lead in the overtime and clung to it until Baumgartner was 3-of-4 on free throws in the final 14 seconds to ice the win.
The toughest shots?
"Definitely the free throws,'' Baumgartner said. "At that time I was just shaking and nervous. Getting that one for a four-point lead, that was a relief.''
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Baumgartner wasn't sure there would be an overtime when she made the trey.
"It was awesome,'' she said. "It felt a little off, a little to the right. But it went in.''
The game was close throughout. Six points was the biggest advantage held by either team. There were eight times and nine lead changes. Legacy took the lead for good 20 seconds into overtime when Sydney Murphy drove from the left wing and scored from in the lane. Brita Feland hit a free throw 34 seconds later for a 59-56 advantage.
Davies coach Tim Jacobson said it wasn't the first time this season the Eagles have gone scoreless for a four-minute stretch.
"We've done that a few times,'' Jacobson said. "Give Legacy credit. They were playing very good defense. We had opportunities (in overtime). We had two good looks on threes when it was 59-56. We got exactly what we were looking for, but we couldn't hit them.''
In the final 6:30 of regulation alone, there were five ties and four lead changes.
"The big thing was scoring first in overtime,'' Sabers coach Jim Petrik said. "That gave us some early momentum. We said get a score and a stop and we liked our chances. And, sure enough, we did both.''
Baumgartner finished with 17 points and Whitney Thomas 12 to lead the Sabers. Carly Kottsick had a game-high 20 points, with Kylee Bergantine and Raegan Linster each scoring 14 for the Eagles. Linster also had 12 rebounds.
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BL: Hulm 2, Hanson 3, Schock 9, Thomas 12, Baumgartner 17, Mueller 3, Feland 7, Murphy 9
FD: Bergantine 14, Kottsick 20, Paper 6, Nelson 2, Linster 14
Halftime: Davies 22, Legacy 21
