WWW arkcity.net

By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net

WINFIELD -- Could this be the "overtime-thriller for the ages" type of win that turns around Arkansas City's season and propels them to a first-round home playoff game?

After recording a 12-win campaign last season, which included its first playoff win in over a decade, Bulldogs coach Bill Stinson was hoping to build on that success -- even with only one returning starter.

Instead, Ark City entered Tuesday evening 3-9.

The Bulldogs hoped they turned that corner after yesterday.

When they needed someone to step up in the clutch, senior Natalie Stinson delivered.

Stinson recorded a block, rebound and made two free throws in the final 10 seconds, and Ark City survived a last-second three-point attempt by Annalisa Jauregi to pull out a thrilling 51-49 overtime win over the Vikings.

"It will at least be something that carries us into Friday," Bill Stinson said. "We'll see what happens there."

Ark City should've avoided the extra session, as it was ahead by six points with 28 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Val White hit a wide-open layup off a pass from the right wing by Karlye Sturd and sank two free throws for a 47-41 advantage.

But Jauregi, who hit the floor hard earlier in the quarter on a push by Molly Warren, had other thoughts.

Jauregi hit two three-pointers, including one with five seconds remaining that bounced off the rim and fell in, to tie the game at 47 and send it into overtime. After a slow first half, she scored 14 of her team-high 19 points in the second half.

Warren had a chance to make it a two possession game after Jauregui's first three-pointer, but missed a free throw on the front end of a one-and-one with 16.7 seconds left.

"Last year, we came here and went to overtime. And it just was like, 'oh no, here we go again,' " Natalie Stinson said. "I just said, 'we can't let it happen again.' "

Stinson personally made sure of that.

When she stepped to the free-throw line with 9.6 seconds left, she was greeted by Winfield's boisterous student section. But all she thought about was making the attempts.

"I've never heard a crowd that loud and I just blocked them out," Natalie Stinson said. "If you want to win, you've just got to make them."

She made both, capping off a 21-point night for the Bulldog senior.

Added Bill Stinson: "She made the plays that we need a senior to make."

With both teams now separated by one game in the race for the fifth playoff seed in their Class 5A region, Natalie Stinson knew how important Tuesday's win was.

"With our sub-state, we're fifth and Winfield is sixth," she said. "Winning this game gives us a good chance of getting us a good first-round game. We're going to have to try and beat them twice."

Ark City hosts Winfield next Tuesday.

After trailing 36-26 midway through the third quarter on a Katie Jackson three-pointer -- her fourth on the night -- Ark City (4-9, 2-4 AVCTL Division II) went back to its matchup zone defense to try and turn up the pressure.

The Bulldogs did, hustling to the floor for loose balls and snagging key rebounds.

Ark City's offense benefited, as Stinson keyed a 13-3 run that extended into the fourth quarter. She scored the first five points of the spurt, including a turnaround jumper that capped off a 12-point third quarter for her.

Karlye Sturd added six points and 11 rebounds, including a putback midway through the fourth that gave the Bulldogs their first lead (41-40) since late in the first half. Natalie Benton added 11 points and Warren 9 -- all three-pointers.

Both teams found their mark behind the arc in the first half. Warren recorded both of Ark City's makes, while Jackson had all of three of Winfield's makes. She recorded nine of her 15 points in the first half.

"We were very upset because our game plan was not to allow Jackson to have any, but we fell asleep," Bill Stinson said.

The Vikings (3-11, 0-6) ended the first half on an 8-2 run for a 22-17 halftime lead.

Ark City 5 12 14 16 4 -- 51
Winfield 7 15 15 10 2 -- 49

Ark City -- Stinson 21, Benton 11, Warren 9, Sturd 6, White 4.
Winfield -- Jauregui 19, Jackson 15, Legako 6, Kernell 4, Miller 3, Young 2.