Lady Twisters win Franklin County rivalry 41-39
The Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters have seen their ups and downs so far in 2022-23. Friday night
can certainly be counted in the former column for Eric Feller’s bunch.
A basket by Hannah Haverkos tied the game at 26 with 3:41 left in the third quarter. Two minutes later,
Ellie Ryan scored on an inbound play and OA held its slight advantage the remainder of the game to win
the county matchup over the 9-win Franklin County Wildcats for the first time since January 2015. Final
was 41-39.
Rachel Suttman and Bailey Kaiser swapped free throws before Kate Weber’s transition layup gave the
Twisters a 31-27 lead through three complete.
Already a foul-heavy contest, the teams combined for 13 penalties in the final frame alone as FC was left
little choice with OA in the lead and patiently nursing the clock during every possession.
Fittingly, a foul started the fourth as FC’s Nicole Mears picked up her fourth personal against Ryan. OA’s
forward banged in both foul shots for a 6-point spread. Wildcat senior Kassidy Schell scored at the other
end ahead of two more charities by Ryan. Schell’s three-pointer assisted by twin sister Kiersten sliced
the lead in half and FC coach Kyle VanMeter called timeout down 35-32.
Just under the 5-minute mark, Weber split defenders and deftly passed to Haverkos for a Twister deuce.
Ka. Schell’s fourth foul put OA in the bonus midway through the period, though Weber missed the front
end of the one-and-one. Oldenburg senior Ashley Borgman and Kassidy Schell traded single free throws
for a 38-33 game at the 2:40 point. Ki. Schell then got to the rim for two as FC called another timeout.
Kassidy Schell fouled out when play resumed, and Weber made 1-of-2 in the double-bonus. Mears
committed her fifth at 1:07; Haverkos split her foul attempts to make it 40-35. Another basket by Schell
made it a one-score game preceding a Wildcat timeout.
It was 40-38 after a Schell free throw. OA left the door open for the visitors in the last half-minute,
hitting just one of six FT tries. Rachel Lamping fouled out for the home side; freshman Ruby Singer sank
1-of-2 at the line. With a chance to tie it up late, the Cats stepped out of bounds for a turnover. In the
waning seconds, OA came up with a deflection and steal to seal the victory.
The hosts shot out to a 6-0 lead at the start. Lamping hit a triple and Haverkos a traditional 3-point play.
Sloppy play at both ends made for over three minutes of scoreless ball. FC finally scored at 2:12 when
Ka. Schell passed to Mears for a short jumper before getting a 3 herself to make it 6-5; Schell added
another dime on a Macy Crain finish. The Cats led 7-6 after eight minutes.
Senior Josie Rolfes opened the second quarter with a long ball (Ka. Schell assist) and a Mears follow-up
hoop had Feller calling time down 12-6. The break helped as OA scored the next six points. Lamping
inbounded to Haverkos for an uncontested lay-in; a Haverkos-to-Haverkos combination (Hannah to
Nora) tied the game.
Kaiser earned an assist when Rolfes again hit from long range. Borgman scored in the lane to make it 15-14 OA missed foul shots just before half, allowing FC to go up 18-14 at intermission.
A Mears putback started second-half action. Trailing by six again, OA fought back with H. Haverkos free
throws and Weber fast-break points. Ka. Schell put FC up 23-18 and later 25-19. OA then went on a
pivotal 16-4 swing. Suttman (2) and Lamping (3, assist Weber) got the ball rolling.
Each squad put seven girls in the scoring column, paced by Kassidy Schell’s game-high 14 and Hannah
Haverkos’ 13. OA added 7 from Ryan, 6 by Lamping, 5 apiece for Weber and Borgman, 3 by Suttman and
2 for Nora Haverkos. Supporting Schell were 7 each by Rolfes and Ki. Schell, 6 by Mears, 3 for Crain and a
free throw apiece for Kaiser and Singer.
FC (9-3) participates in the Ivy Tech Holiday Classic at Whiteland Friday. OA (6-5) has a 13-day break until
Waldron visits on the 29 th .