Lady Pats inch past Cascade in BCT final

Olivia Calvert arose from the crowded paint with ball in hand and tossed in the game-winning basket with 16 seconds remaining to give Liberty Middle a thrilling 35-34 overtime win over Cascade Middle in the Bedford County Tournament championship Thursday.

Calvert showed why she was tabbed the tournament's most valuable player by also pulling in an acrobatic offensive rebound and saving a basketball that was heading out of bounds to help secure the victory in the closing seconds.

"I really don't know how to put it into words," first-year Liberty coach Jennifer Gray said. "They've worked very hard this year. They've had to come in and learn something totally new. They've had to learn the offense. They've adjusted very well."

It was the Lady Pats' third title in the last seven years with the previous plaque going to the Red, White and Blue in 2006.

Liberty's season comes to a close with a final record of 17-3 with two of those losses coming at the hands of the Lady Champions (16-5).

"They have been very special. From Day One they've done what I wanted them to. If I say jump, they'll ask how high. That's the kind of kids that they are," Gray said.

It was Cascade's second straight single-digit loss in the BCT final, falling to Community 22-17 last season.

Kimme Bayne's steal and layup capped off a torrid start for the winners in which they scored eight of the game's first 10 points. They led 10-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Jessica Ervin's bucket 42 seconds prior to the half brought Cascade to within striking distance, trailing just 13-11 at the break.

"(The hot start) and the fact that they had no pressure (helped)," Gray said. "It's hard to beat a team three times, and they just came in relaxed. They knew it was the last game so they were going to give it all they could. When they got that early lead, they thought, 'Oh, we can do this.' So, it kind of gave them a boost of confidence."

The teams were tied at 19-all after three quarters.

Karra Feck's field goal with 3:11 to play in regulation provided Cascade with its first lead.

The upper hand changed six times in the fourth quarter.

Calvert scored with 24 seconds showing for what figured to be the game-winner until Katie Vincent took an inbounds pass and rattled home a clutch tying basket with a mere 2 ticks to go.

Courtnie Carter provided four points in a 17-second span to ease the Lady Champs in front 34-33 with 33 seconds left in OT.

Calvert's theatrics late were made that much more important as teammates clanked on four free-throw attempts in the last 19 seconds.

She finished with a team-high nine points. Twin sister Hannah Calvert contributed five of her eight points in the bonus period.

Carter paced Cascade with 11 points. Ervin and Vincent both had six.

The Lady Pats were 8-of-21 at the foul line, while the Orange and Black hit 6-of-16.