The Wiregrass Ranch Bulls handed the Freedom Patriots their first loss of the season in a dramatic game, which went into two overtimes and ended with the Bulls on top 56-53.
"Our defense won that game, hands down," said Bulls coach John Grant.
Wiregrass came out with aggression early on and kept the game knotted up at 12 at the end of the first quarter.
Freedom freshman Taylor Emery scored eight of his 14 points in the first quarter.
However, Freedom's tight defense produced fouls that kept putting Wiregrass at the line and allowed them to build a 23-14 lead going into the half.
Wiregrass went to 11-for-18 from the free throw line in the first half.
In the second half, Freedom was able to creep back into the game by controlling the boards and making timely shots on Wiregrass turnovers.
Wiregrass's Kelly McCaffrey tied up the game at 47 to force the second overtime with just seconds remaining. McCaffrey contributed a team-high 21 points.
The game would be decided in the second overtime, as McCaffrey stole Freedom's in-bounds pass and made a lay-up to put Wiregrass up 53-52 lead in the closing seconds.
"(She) has that presence. You can't get a bigger heart than Kelly McCaffrey," said Gant. "She stepped up when we needed a leader."
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