Lauren Mayernik (No. 23) struggles for a shot as the Avonworth girls’ basketball team heads into overtime before beating OLSH. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

Thomas Jefferson once said, "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." That quote may pertain to the Avonworth girls’ basketball team when they hosted section rival OLSH on Monday, Jan. 3.

The 'Lopes, who struggled offensively from the field throughout most of the game, worked hard through a fourth quarter deficit before hitting on an off-balance shot at the buzzer to get into overtime.

The Lady ‘Lopes were able to take over from there, defeating the Chargers 40-36.

"We had a tough game tonight, " said head coach Bob Schulz.

Avonworth's affliction on offense played right into what OLSH's intention seemed to be -- and that was to slow things down and control the tempo of the game.

Lauren Mayernik got things started in the first quarter, converting a put-back for a score, but the Chargers responded with two baskets inside to lead 4-2.

Avonworth had some good looks on offense, but managed to convert on only two of 10 from the field in the opening period.Mayernik's jumper had the teams tied at 4-4 to end the first quarter.

Mackenzie Mayernik's score from down inside gave the 'Lopes their largest lead at 11-8 late in the second quarter, but OLSH responded from the perimeter on offense with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 11-11 with 1:43 to play in the period.

Avonworth answered with L. Mayernik's free throw and six-foot jumper, along with a free throw by Catherine Costa, which put the Lady ‘Lopes up 15-11, but the Chargers finished with a basket from long range to cut Avonworth's lead at the half, 15-14.

The 'Lopes finished the second quarter only slightly better at 3-of-10 from the field.

OLSH was able to exploit Avonworth's zone defense and that was most evident in the third quarter, where the big girl inside, Marissa Conlin, scored seven of her game-high 18 points.

The 'Lopes were 3-of-11 from the field in the quarter as they were outscored 14-7 to trail 28-22 going into the fourth quarter.

Avonworth moved into their man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter in order to increase the pressure and change the tempo to create turnovers. It did seem to work, as Avonworth was trailing 30-22 and followed with a pair of free throws by L. Mayernik , 1-of-2 from the line by Natalie Zivic, and a basket by M. Mayernik in a 5-1 run that had the Lady ‘Lopes behind 31-27 with 1:11 left on the clock.

Conlin scored for the Chargers inside, but Costa answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the circle that had the 'Lopes trailing 33-30 with :48 remaining.

OLSH's Andrea Laffey was all alone underneath for a score, but Costa kept her touch from the perimeter, knocking down another 3-pointer to cut the Chargers’ lead to 35-33 with :23 left.

OLSH was intentionally fouled and made only 1-of-2 from the line. Zivic followed with a desperation shot out front beyond the 3-point arc that banked in for the score at the buzzer to send the teams to overtime tied 36-36.

L. Mayernik scored, driving to the hoop, and Costa added a pair of free throws that would secure the 40-36 victory.

Costa finished with 16 points, followed by L. Mayernik with 14.

The win came after a tough holiday tournament in which the 8-1 'Lopes suffered their first loss of the season. In the opener of the St. Joe's Holiday Tournament, Avonworth fell to Deer Lakes 49-40. The Lancers took advantage of 17-18 from the stripe in the fourth quarter to secure the win. The Lady ‘Lopes then bounced back in the consolation game, defeating Springdale 58-25. Costa had 20 points, L. Mayernik 19, and Zivic and M. Mayernik each had 6.