MOUNT VERNON — Their collapse was as sudden as it was complete.
The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets let a 14-point lead slip away in the final period to the Big Walnut Golden Eagles on Friday. A 24-4 fourth quarter rout led to a 43-37 Big Walnut victory in Ohio Capital Conference action at The Hive.
“It seemed to me like we were just trying to hang on for the win, instead of going and getting it,” said Rucker. “It’s just the sign of a young team. We’re going to learn from this game.”
Mount Vernon (6-4, 2-2 OCC) seemed unable to hold back the Golden Eagle surge. The Jackets couldn’t hit a shot in the fourth, going 0-for-7 from the field with nine turnovers. Their only scoring came from three free throws by Sammy Cunningham and one by Kaitlin Dallas.
With 6:30 to play, Big Walnut’s Makenna Hammond hit a 3-pointer, then stole the ball on the ensuing possession and scored on a jumper. Sara Petty, Big Walnut’s post player, hit three shots down the stretch including two straight with under two minutes to play to put the Eagles within one. Emily Chucta then scored on a three-point play to give Big Walnut (5-2, 3-2 OCC) its first lead of the game, 38-37, with 39 seconds to play.
Mount Vernon’s next possession was typical of the final period. The Eagles swarmed the Jackets’ ball-handlers, with Hammond eventually getting the steal.
Petty had eight points in the final period, while Hammond had seven and Chucta had six.
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