Eureka’s late free throws ruin Pikeland’s chance to win seventh grade state title

AUBURN, Ill. — Less than a second away from heading to overtime to decide the Class 3A seventh grade girls basketball state championship, Eureka drew a foul and needed just one free throw to secure the title.

Mya Edwards went ahead and made all three.

The Hornets guard was fouled on a 3-point attempt with one-tenth of a second remaining in regulation and the game tied at 22. She sank her three free-throw attempts and Pittsfield couldn’t get off a final shot, suffering a 25-22 loss.

The Braves finish 21-4.

Trailing 22-21 with 31.7 seconds remaining in regulation and Eureka with possession following a jump ball, Pittsfield’s Josie McClintock stole the inbounds pass and got the ball to Reese Ramsey, who was fouled on a drive with 21.2 seconds remaining. She hit the first free throw to tie the game, but after a Hornets timeout, Ramsey missed the second. 

She grabbed her own rebound, and the Braves took a timeout with 18 seconds left.

After inbounding the ball in front of the Pikeland bench, the Braves moved the ball around the perimeter to McClintock on the right baseline. She drove and had her shot blocked with the Hornets grabbing the rebound. Edwards drove the ball into the frontcourt and was fouled on a 3-point heave.

Ramsey led Pikeland with 12 points, while McClintock added seven.