A double overtime win for the Ponoka Secondary Campus Broncs senior girls was a game to remember.
The Broncs earned their first win of the league Jan. 16 against the Rocky Mountain House Rebels in a double-overtime barn burner that had fans on the edge of their seats.
At one point in the game Ponoka seemed to have things locked with a 13-0 lead against Rocky but that didn’t last long. The Rebels played a solid strategy putting the Broncs’ defense to the test.
Coach Cam Horan said the game started out well with a sense of urgency among Broncs players. “The girls came out with it and the other team didn’t.”
As the game wore on, however, it was clear that neither team was willing to give up without a fight. The Rebels and Broncs were relatively neck and neck with the Rebels finding a small lead in the fourth. That, however, did not last and by the end of regulation time they were tied 33-33.
With a five minute over time period ahead of them the Broncs and the Rebels put on strong defensive measures making scoring a challenge for either team. Somehow, the Rebels managed to squeak by with a one-point lead at 36-35 putting the Broncs’ chance at a win in jeopardy.
A foul against the Broncs at the net with 2.5 seconds left put a glimmer of hope in the players’ eyes and Nadia Simons sunk one of her two shots, tying it up 36-36.
“To be honest, at the end I was a little nervous and then Nadia got to the line,” explained Horan with some relief.
Facing a second over time period, the Broncs weren’t sure they were able to find the energy to win but it was at this point they gained some momentum.
Simons found holes in the Rebels’ defense scoring several consecutive baskets in a short period, giving Ponoka the confidence to finish the game on a high note.
“Nadia made choices that really took over the game and Paisely (Wilson) followed suit,” said Horan, adding that it’s usually the other way round for the pair.
“Especially at the end of that second over time Nadia made sure we were not going away with a loss,” he stated.
Ponoka ended up with a 47-42 win and the team went wild at the final buzzer.
Horan’s voice was hoarse after the game and he was pleased to see such a strong ending despite the Rebels never giving up.
The Broncs boys team did not have the same luck as the girls ending up with a final loss of 78-48 against the Rebels.