Iowa City High rallies, then rules overtime to top Liberty

NORTH LIBERTY — Experience won that one for Iowa City High.

Maturity.

Trailing throughout regulation, by as much as 14 points in the third quarter, the Class 5A second-ranked Little Hawks fought their way to overtime, then feasted at the free-throw line in the extra session to defeat Iowa City Liberty, 77-67, in a girls’ basketball matchup Tuesday night at Liberty High School.

“We were trying to be focused and remain calm,” Georgia Kimm said. “It was a stressful game.”

City (8-0) held the young Bolts (6-3) scoreless through the final 4:10 of regulation, scoring the final seven points to forge a 57-57 deadlock.

“We talked at halftime and we weren’t going to get it all back at once,” said City Coach Bill McTaggart, whose team trailed 41-28 at intermission. “We knew if we could get it down to six by the start of the fourth quarter, we’d be OK.”

Kelsey Joens and Eviyon Richardson are the City stars, and they combined for 52 points. But the Little Hawks wouldn’t have won this one without Kimm.

Her 3-pointer with 3:45 left in regulation kick-started the rally, bringing the Little Hawks within 57-51.

Then, she hit another one from deep to give City a 65-59 advantage with 2:23 left in overtime.

“She was very key,” said Richardson, who led all scorers with 29 points. “We tell her, if you’re open, take that shot.

“We all trust each other.”

City made 22 of 25 free throws Tuesday, 13 of 14 in overtime.

The Little Hawks overcame a scorching first half by the Lightning, who made 9 of 18 3-point attempts before intermission.

“We came out confident. We weren’t timid at all,” Liberty Coach Jaime Brandt said. “We proved that we can play with anybody. In the second half, we went a little cold.”

Liberty had its largest lead, 44-30, when Ava Meyer hit a 3-pointer with 6:15 left in the third quarter.

But gradually, the Little Hawks rallied.

After Kimm’s 3-pointer brought the Little Hawks within six, Emmy McComas and Joens added conventional three-point plays to tie the game.

Kimm scored to open overtime for the Little Hawks’ first lead, and they pulled away from there.

Jasmine Barney led Liberty with 22 points. Avery Gaudet, Madeline Casey and Sunny Yarnell added nine apiece.

The game did not count toward Mississippi Valley Conference standings. The counting game is Jan. 28 at City High.

BOYS: CITY HIGH 82, LIBERTY 72

TaeVeon Stevens scored a game-high 23 points, including a key 3-pointer with a hand in his face, to send the Little Hawks to 4-3.

Stevens’ 3-pointer with 1:10 left gave City High a 75-71 lead. He added 3 of 4 free throws in the next half-minute to salt the game away.

Jovan Harris added 15 points for the Little Hawks, Jamari Newson and Shamar Benton collected 14 apiece.

Christian Barney led Liberty (1-5) with 22 points. Da’Shon Fisher scored 15.

City went on a 16-6 run for a 57-47 lead late in the third quarter, and still led 62-52 early in the fourth. The Lightning got within one point on three occasions, but the Little Hawks answered each time.

Iowa City High 77, Iowa City Liberty 67 (OT)

At North Liberty

IOWA CITY HIGH (77): Georgia Kimm 5-6 0-0 13, Kelsey Joens 7-19 8-9 23, Eviyon Richardson 7-12 11-13 29, Lauren Koch 0-0 0-0 0, Andie Westlake 1-6 2-2 5, Emmy McComas 2-2 1-1 5, Kacie Earl 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 23-48 22-25 77.

IOWA CITY LIBERTY (67): Avery Gaudet 3-4 0-0 9, Jasmine Barney 7-19 5-7 22, Kennedy Daugherty 1-4 0-0 2, Ava Meyer 2-7 2-4 8, Madeline Casey 3-9 0-0 9, Mischa Reiners 0-2 0-0 0, Brynlee Slockett 0-6 0-0 0, Sunny Yarnell 3-5 3-3 9, Belle Tafolla 2-5 0-0 6, Libby Allen 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 21-61 12-16 67.

Iowa City High 14 14 16 13 20 — 77

Iowa City Liberty 20 21 9 7 10 — 67

3-point goals: City 9-19 (Kimm 3-3, Joens 1-7, Richardson 4-5, Westlake 1-4), Liberty 13-33 (Gaudet 3-3, Barney 3-5, Meyer 2-5, Casey 3-9, Slockett 0-6, Tafolla 2-5). Team fouls: City 14, Liberty 20. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: City 35 (Richardson 12), Liberty 33 (Meyer 8). Assists: City 8 (Joens 3), Liberty 11 (Gaudet, Yarnell 3). Steals: City 7 (Joens 4), Liberty 5 (Gaudet 2). Turnovers: City 13, Liberty 13.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com