Lady Eagles survive Heritage Hall rally

Brian Richardson called it “gritty and gutty.”

There was also a big dose of good fortune.

Hennessey held off Heritage Hall 37-35 Thursday in Kellyville to advance to the Class 3A area consolation semifinals.

In the Lady Eagles’ first trip to area in 11 years, they overcame scoring just one point in the first quarter and watched as Marly Moore’s game-tying shot missed the mark at the buzzer.

Moore got a good look despite Heritage Hall taking it out under the Hennessey basket with 2.5

seconds left.

A long pass flew past half court before Moore grabbed it and was nearly in the paint before letting her errant shot go.

That came after Emma Copeland had a chance to ice the game, but she missed two free throws with 3.2 seconds to play.

It was all part of a wild final two minutes of the game that saw Hennessey take and give up a fivepoint lead. The lead came on Ally Painter’s bucket in the paint on a feed from Copeland with just over 1:50 left.

It gave the Lady Eagles a 35-30 advantage.

Heritage Hall’s Kash Cooper quickly answered with a 3-pointer and then, after a Hennessey turnover, the Lady Chargers tied it up on Anna Walker’s baseline jumper with 51.5 seconds to go.

The Lady Eagles got what proved to be the game winner with under 30 seconds to play when Katie Kennedy drove and dished to Clare Munroe.

After Heritage Hall failed to answer, Hennessey was able to work the clock down until the Lady Chargers were able to foul enough to put it in the bonus.

Early on it appeared Heritage Hall would run away with it.

Painter’s free throw was Hennessey’s only point in the first quarter as the Lady Eagles faced an eight-point deficit.

The second quarter was a different story as Hennessey went on a 19-4 run.

Kennedy scored nine during the quarter.

The lead was four entering the fourth and grew to as much as five.

Kennedy led the team with 11 points.

Painter scored seven, Munroe six, Star Torres five and Copeland and Emily Goff scored four each.

Richardson said Goff, who scored her points in the second quarter, and Torres sparked the second quarter outburst as well as Amiliey Tuell’s defense off the bench.

Hennessey moved to 21-9 with the victory. The Lady Eagles played Community Christian in Friday’s semifinals (after press time of this edition). The Lady Eagles need two wins to advance to this week’s state tournament.