State Fair women’s basketball forced three shot-clock violations against Moberly Area Community College on Saturday, with the third occurring within the crucial last minute of a 2-point ballgame.
With the shot clock winding down and Moberly up 61-59, Carnethia Brown managed a drive and right-handed attempt at the basket.
The violation call was close, controversial and — if you asked the Moberly bench — wrong.
As if doubling-down on their luck, Lady Roadrunner guard Maya Brewer squared up, released and swished a bold corner three that robbed the lead from MACC and sent a healthy homecoming crowd into a frenzy.
Anna Stewart’s attempt with less than four second remaining was off, and the State Fair bench briefly joined the homecoming crowd to celebrate a rollercoaster 62-61 victory over a Region 16 rival.
The Lady Roadrunners led 40-27 at halftime and acknowledged sophomores Bre’Anna Lamar, Aaliyah and Alexis Cowan, Danaé Cole, Kendra Boone and Anjana Oakes.
“I’ve been coach for 17 years,” said SFCC head coach Kevin Bucher. “And this team means a whole lot to me.”
State Fair Community College (17-8) defeated the Lady Greyhounds 67-65 in Moberly in January, and assumed their opponent would rebound in the second half to force a similar result in Sedalia.
The charge nearly buried State Fair.
Moberly (22-6) dominated the third quarter, using an 20-6 run to pull ahead, 47-46.
Brianna Perry led the Lady Greyhounds with 22 points on 9 of 12 shooting.
Alexis Cowan finished with 11 points, and the same number of Lady Roadrunners scored at least one point. Brewer and long-range sharpshooter Catie Kaifes had nine points.
Bucher said Brewer’s 3-point attempt was a gamble, but calculated.
“We said we wanted a three,” Bucher said. “We were going to win or lose. She had a wide open shot … Give her credit for wanting to taking that shot and hitting that shot. What a pressure shot for a freshman.”
The Lady Roadrunners compensated for a 42-29 rebound disadvantage by forcing 21 Moberly turnovers.
Grace Morrow collected three blocks in 12 minutes total, and helped force two straight MACC shot-clock violations as the Lady Roadrunners took an 11-2 lead to start the contest.
State Fair hosts Jefferson College 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center in Sedalia.
Moberly Area Community College 81, State Fair Community College 61
Amir Smith had 16 points, Vonny Irvin had 12 and Russel Baker and Lorenzo Lawrence II finished with 10 apiece in an 81-61 Roadrunner loss to Moberly Area Community College on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center in Sedalia.
State Fair previously lost to the Greyhounds 89-40 in a January road contest.
Smith gave the Roadrunners an 18-16 lead with free throws four minutes into Saturday’s game. Delfincko Bogan hit a 3-pointer over Jamar Kemp and Tyrone Gibbs to cap a 14-3 Moberly run that forced an SFCC timeout and put the Greyhounds ahead 30-21.
Moberly (25-3) led 37-23 at halftime and ballooned its lead to as large as 25.
Brandon Better scored a game-high 25 points for the Grehounds.
State Fair (11-16) hosts Iowa Western Community College 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center in Sedalia.
