Willard returns to district championship game

ASHLAND — ASHLAND — Willard played some stingy defense in the fourth quarter and got just enough offense in a come-from-behind 49-44 win over Shelby on Thursday night in a Division II Ashland District semifinal. The Crimson Flashes, the No. 3 seed in the district, improved to 20-4 on the season. They were led by Cassie Crawford, who finished with 19 points and kept her composure on what proved to be the game-winning basket. Shelby took a 44-43 lead on two Sydnie Seibert free throws with 2:05 to play. Those two tosses were the only points of the quarter for the second-seeded Whippets, who finished the season 22-2. On Willard's next possession, Crawford got a shot blocked, but gathered the carom and went back up for two points and a 45-44 lead. "I knew I needed to go back up because we needed that shot," Crawford said. "After that happened we really knew we could do it. We pushed through." "She got stuffed, got the rebound and got it back up," Willard coach Barry Pfahl said about Crawford's clutch shot. "That's the kind of player she is. She didn't quit on it." Shelby missed on its next possession but Willard was called for an offensive foul, giving the Whippets another chance. The teams traded turnovers before Presley Feltner scored on an inbounds play to give Willard a 47-43 lead with 27 seconds to play. The 6-foot-1 Feltner was held to four points, but came through at a big moment. "Every time she touched the ball there were eight people batting at it," Pfahl said. "I'm sure she was frustrated a little bit. She kept battling." Shelby missed on its next possession and Mckenna Stephens grabbed a rebound and then made a putback layup to give Willard a 49-44 edge in the final seconds. Kalli Sowers and Layla Dials each scored nine points for the Flashes. Dials, who has been sick, hit a clutch 3-pointer with 2:29 to play to bring Willard to within a point at 44-43. "There were a couple rebounds both teams could've had and we got those boards, we got those steals and loose balls," Crawford said. "We made the hustle plays." Emma Randall led the Whippets with 15 points. Shelby scored 21 points in the third quarter to take a 42-37 lead, but couldn't crack the Willard defense in the final eight minutes. "We played great defense and were strong on the boards," Pfahl said. "We have some kids who could jump and battle inside." Willard will play Perkins at 7 p.m. Saturday in the district championship game back in Ashland. The fourth-seeded Pirates upset top-seeded Bellevue 63-59 in Thursday's first game. "Not necessarily what we were expecting, but they have a lot of good girls on their team," Pfahl said. "We're looking forward to the challenge."