Bushland girls win District 1-3A title with thrilling 47-43 victory over Canadian
BUSHLAND — With 32 seconds left in a District 1-3A game Tuesday between the Bushland and Canadian girls basketball teams, the Lady Wildcats forced a jump ball and gained possession with the arrow pointed its way trailing by two points.
Canadian had overtime on its mind, if not a win. And with the district title was on the line, and after winning it the past two years, the Lady Wildcats were not about to let the Lady Falcons steal it away.
Yet with 16 seconds left on the clock, Bushland’s Chloe Cochran did just that. Literally.
Cochran ran in and collected a steal from Canadian, managing to run eight seconds off the clock. She got the ball to Emma Troxell, who sunk two free throws — pushing her total to 27 points — to put the game out of reach on the way to aiding Bushland to a 47-43 victory and an outright district championship.
There were a ton of moments throughout the game that determined the outcome, but the steal by Cochran seemed to be the clincher. So, what was going through her mind in that pivotal moment?
"Don't drop it," Cochran said with a laugh. "Don't let it go."
She didn't, and she set Troxell up to put the game out of reach for the Lady Falcons (25-6, 10-0).
Troxell, the Amarillo Globe-News Preseason Player of the Year, was sensational once again on Tuesday as she not only eclipsed the 20-point mark, but also collected her 1,000th career rebound. After the game, she was less concerned about her own individual accolades and more focused on being a district champion for the first time since her freshman year.
"This team really wanted it," Troxell said. "We came out and did what we needed to do."
It wasn't easy.
Canadian started the game with an 8-0 run as the Lady Falcons didn't score their first points until 5:15 into the contest. They trailed 15-9 entering the second when Troxell went on an 8-0 run by herself to put Bushland ahead.
The Lady Falcons took a 29-25 lead into the locker room.
Bushland increased the lead to seven in the third quarter before Cazzlee Waite had two consecutive and-one layups to shave the deficit to 39-38 entering the fourth. Berkley Beedy tied it up for the Lady Wildcats midway through the final period before Troxell hit four free throws to make it 45-41.
Samantha Krehbiel finished a layup while falling down to pull Canadian within two points (45-43) with 1:19 to go. The Lady Wildcats (23-10, 7-3) had a chance to extend the contest, or win, but Cochran stole it away.
Canadian was still waiting to find out its postseason opponent at press time, but Bushland is set to face off against Lubbock Roosevelt on Monday in Dimmitt.
"We know that when you get into the playoffs anyone can win," Bushland coach Ty Mayfield said. "Four seeds have beaten one seeds before and we don't want that. We're going to do what we can to get ready Thursday, Friday and Saturday to be ready to go."
Canadian
Berkley Beedy 5 pts, Samantha Krehbiel 9, Reiss Adams 5, Brooklyn Cochran 14, Waite 10
Bushland
Troi Peart 4, Chloe Cochran 10, Kenzie Sims 4, Jada Permenter 2, Emma Troxell 27
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Chloe Cochran steal helps Bushland put away Canadian, secure District 1-3A title in thrilling win
