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Bintner saves day against Big Bay

Buzzer-beater bank shot helps Rockets in OT win

Avery Bundgaard | Daily Press Rapid River’s Elizabeth Goodacre, left, escapes the defense of Big Bay de Noc’s Maddie McPhee (11) and Brooke Dalgord, center, during overtime Monday at Rapid River.

RAPID RIVER — Could the Rapid River girls have picked a better time to seize the momentum Monday night?

That would seem unlikely as the Rockets stole one from Big Bay de Noc, surging to a 62-55 overtime basketball triumph in this Skyline Conference Conference match-up.

Big Bay had the ball under its basket and a 51-49 lead with 1.2 seconds left in regulation.

Rapid River senior Rachel Bintner then stole the inbound pass and banked a short jump shot from the lane as time expired, forcing the overtime.

“All we had to do was get the ball downcourt, and we didn’t do it,” said Big Bay coach Brad McPhee. “This one definitely stings. Our girls played well the whole game. Offensively. we were patient and took good shots. Give credit to Rapid River. They didn’t give up.”

Avery Bundgaard | Daily Press Rapid River's Rachel Bintner, right, and Big Bay de Noc's Maddie McPhee (11) chase down a loose ball during overtime Monday at Rapid River.

Senior guard Elizabeth Goodacre gave the Rockets a 54-51 lead on a running 12-foot jumper and a free throw 90 seconds into the overtime.

The Black Bears pulled within 54-53 on a 15-foot set shot by senior Brooke Dalgord 20 seconds later.

Sophomore Kristin Goodacre then gave the Rockets 57-53 cushion on a 20-foot set shot from the right wing and Bay College recruit Elizabeth Goodacre secured the decision by hitting 5-of-6 free throws in the last 33.4 seconds.

“Liz did a great job hitting those free throws, and the fact that she hit those in overtime is even more clutch,” said Rockets’ coach Mitch Hall. “We felt we were in good shoes going into overtime. We were able to burn some time-outs (late in regulation) and set up some presses.”

Big Bay took a 51-45 lead with 50 seconds left in regulation when Dalgord sank a jumper from the boulevard.

Senior Shelby LaCosse, however, drained four gifters within the next 23 seconds to bring the Rockets within two points and set the stage for Bintner’s buzzer-beater.

“That (Big Bay) is a strong team,” said Hall. “It felt like it was hard to get into any kind of flow through the whole game. Fortunately, we did a little better job staying out of foul trouble tonight. It was an interesting atmosphere. It lit up the fans when we went into overtime.”

The Rockets (6-7 overall and league) sank 19-of-68 field goals and 16-of-20 free throws. LaCosse hit all eight of her shots and Elizabeth Goodacre was 7-of-9 from the

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