THREE FORKS – With 8.7 seconds left on the clock and down 52-49 to Jefferson High School on Thursday night, the Three Forks Wolves had their backs pressed against the wall, literally.
Off a heavily-pressed inbound pass from their own baseline, the Lady Wolves’ Kyle Olson rushed up court, fired from deep and found the bottom of the net, sending the game into overtime.
It was a defensive battle in OT, as not a single field goal was made. The first points were scored from the foul line with just 9.5 seconds left by Jefferson freshman Rachel Blaricom. She hit both, giving her team a 54-52 lead, while ending the night with a team-high 19 points.
But two points was all it took in overtime. Olson, who finished with a game-high 32 points for the Wolves, once again drove down court hoping to take a winning shot. But she was fouled with under three seconds left.
She was automatic from the line Thursday night and knocked down the first attempt, making her 8-8 from the charity stripe on the night. But the second shot rattled around the rim before popping out and Jefferson survived a thriller, 54-53.
Olson finished with 32 points (10-27 FG), eight rebounds and four steals.
The boys game didn’t provide as much suspense, as Three Forks controlled the pace throughout the contest thanks to a 27-point second quarter, as they took a 42-26 lead into the locker room. Eleven players scored in the 79-50 win for the Wolves, led by Bryce Olson and Payden Lynn, who each had 15.
Trent McMaster paced the Panthers with 20 points in the loss.
