UNIONVILLE, Tenn. – The Community Vikings (6-4) played their third-consecutive two-possession game on Friday night, this time taking home the victory with a 47-42 overtime win over Clay County (4-4). 

Ella Eads took advantage of the Viqueens shooting a dismal 3/12 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, scoring the game-tying bucket for her 18th point of the night to tie the game at 39 and send it to the extra session. Her 18 points were a game-high, and she was joined in double-figures by Natalie Smith with 14 points, but the Viqueens held the Lady Bulldogs without a made field goal in the extra session, outscoring the visitors, 8-3. 

Brooklyn Yoes led the way for Community with a team-high 13 points – 10 of which came after halftime. Anna Haskins added nine points, Mattie Maxey chipped in with seven points despite shooting just 1/8 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter and overtime. Conversely, Clay County shot 10/11 at the line for the game. In the end, the Viqueens were able to offset their free throw struggles by connecting on seven three-pointers compared to just two makes for the Lady Bulldogs.

Early on, Community took a 13-10 lead at the end of the opening period of play behind a trio of three-pointers. One apiece from Savannah Pearson, Haskins, and Yoes, as well as four points from Alyssa White, was good enough to hold a three-point lead after one.

In the second quarter, both teams took a step back offensively with Clay County winning the period, 9-8, to trim the lead to 21-19 heading into the halftime locker room. Morgan Pridemore and Haskins each connected from downtown to go with two points from Maxey. For the visitors, Smith nailed one of her team’s two threes as well as a two-point field goal while Eads scored the other four.

In the third quarter, Community outscored Clay County, 12-9, to take a 33-28 lead heading into the final frame. Yoes scored her first points since the first quarter on two more three-pointers with a two-point field goal. 

Then, in the fourth quarter, the Viqueens were held to just one field goal in the period – a two-pointer from Maxey – as Community capitulated at the free throw line. Maxey missed her first four shots before splitting a pair to allow the Viqueens to limp into an extra session. Meanwhile, Eads took full advantage, scoring seven of her team’s 11 points in the period to send the game into overtime. 

However, Cody Pierce’s squad showed incredible resiliency to bounce back and pull out the win. Despite struggling in overtime at the line as well – shooting just 4/10 – the hosts held the Lady Bulldogs without a field goal for the full four minutes to snap a two-game losing streak.

Community improves to 6-4 overall. The Viqueens host Eagleville on Tuesday night, having beaten the Lady Eagles twice already this season.