Calm, cool, collected and clutch

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Make or break, do or die.

Claire Simmons faced the situation for her first time Saturday, and handled it like an old pro.

Simmons swished two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to lift Class 3A seventh-ranked Williamsburg to a 42-41 victory over Independence in a Wamac Conference girls' basketball game, the finale of Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

"I hadn't been shooting my free throws very consistently, so I really tried to focus on the hook of the rim," Simmons said. "After I made the first one, I was a lot more confident about the second."

Williamsburg (10-1 overall, 8-0 Wamac) maintained sole possession of the conference lead. As has been the trend all season, they captured it late.

This time, really late.

In a game that featured 11 changes, Independence (4-7, 3-6) took a 41-40 lead when Kelsey Ratchford made the first of two free throws with 12 seconds left.

Then, Simmons trumped her, drawing a foul in the lane.

She swished the first try. The Mustangs iced her before the second, to no avail.

Ratchford, who led all scorers with 23 points, was well short on a 60-foot heave at the horn.

Just another night in the Wamac.

"Give Independence credit," said Williamsburg Coach Aaron Feddersen. "Rod (Conrad) had them well prepared. They took the shots we wanted them to take, but they made them."

"I had 100-percent confidence in Claire at the line. I'm happy she was there and able to make them."

The largest margin of the game was five points, by Independence on four occasions in the third quarter.

Simmons' free throws were a microcosm of the game: The Raiders made all five of their free throws; Indee was 4 of 11.

Simmons led the Raiders with 11 points. Tina Lane and Maeve Broeg added 10 apiece, Paige Greiner nine.

A Drake University recruit, Greiner is one point away from the school's all-time career scoring record of 1,105, set by Mackenzie Bigbee (2008-12). 

WILLIAMSBURG 42, INDEPENDENCE 41

At U.S. Cellular Center

WILLIAMSBURG (42): Sadie Ritchie 0-5 2-2 2, Tina Lane 5-6 0-0 10, Olivia Bigbee 0-2 0-0 0, Claire Simmons 4-16 3-3 11, Paige Greiner 4-10 0-0 9, Maeve Broeg 5-12 0-0 10, Haylee Huedepohl 0-0 0-0 0, Kelsa Berkland 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Eichhorn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-52 5-5 42..

INDEPENDENCE (41): Molly Gustafson 3-7 0-0 9, Paige Davis 1-5 0-0 2, Kelsey Ratchford 10-16 3-5 23, Stephanie McMillan 0-1 0-4 0, Tristin Ludwig 3-7 0-0 6, Paige Stoner 0-2 0-0 0, Brittney Fuller 0-0 0-0 0, Karlie Niedert 0-0 0-0 0, Mackenzie Thompson 0-0 1-2 1, Suzan Grover-Wegmuller 0-0 0-0 0, Megann Kinset 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-38 4-11 41.Halftime: Williamsburg 18, independence 17. 3-point goals: Williamsburg 1-8 (Ritchie 0-2, Simmons 0-2, Greiner 1-4), Independence 3-10 (Gustafson 2-7, Ratchford 0-1, Stoner 0-2), Team fouls: Williamsburg 11, Independence 9. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Williamsburg 28 (Broeg 7), Independence 29 (Ratchford 6). Assists: Williamsburg 7 (Greiner 2), Independence 11 (McMillan 7). Steals: Williamsburg 6 (Greiner 3), Independence 4 (Gustafson 2). Turnovers: Williamsburg 12, Independence 17.