Neal leads Broncos to thrilling overtime win

 HAMPDEN – The Hampden Broncos girls basketball program hosted the Deering Rams of Portland in their final home game of the season which is senior day at Hampden Academy. It took an extra four minutes, but in the end, 7-of-8 shooting from the foul line and a line drive 3-pointer took the Broncos past the Rams 42-38 in overtime. 

Hampden's five senior starters, Ella Carlisle, Emma Haskell, Taylor Gardner, Camryn Neal, and Taya Archer. Hampden went on to win the game 42-38 in overtime. (Photo by Ron Hawkes/MSR)

Click here to view the Photo Gallery from this game including Senior Day Presentation

This was a game in which neither team could make a run to tip the scale a little. Deering took the first quarter 15-13, Hampden the second 4-3 leaving the Rams with an 18-17 halftime lead. Deering picked up a little in the third quarter outscoring the Broncos 7-5 to take a 25-22 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Here the Broncos took better care of the ball, and made their shots when they had to and holding a three point lead with less than 30 seconds left in the game when Deering's Nyabhana Lia nailed a NBA distance 3-pointer to tie the score at 32-32 to force the overtime. 

In the overtime the Broncos were not about to be denied. With the score tied at 35 each, Lauren Voteur found herself in the corner wide open with the ball and she nailed a 3-pointer that had no arc on it at all and was still nothing but net. 

With Hampden leading 38-35 Lia hit another three to tie the score. Deering had fouls to use and did, putting first Neal on the line where she nailed both foul shots. Just a few seconds later Hampden's Lucy Wiles goes to the line and makes both her shots for the 42- 38 score with .03 seconds on the clock. 

Scoring for the Broncos were, Neal with a game high 14 points including 5-6 from the foul line and three long shots; Lucy Wiles had 10; Emma Haskell nine; Lauren Voteur four (all in overtime); Taylor Gardner three; and Taya Archer two. 

Hampden was 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the foul line and knocked down five long distance shots, three from Neal, and one each from Haskell and Voteur. 

For Deering, Lia had a team high 13 points; Maya Gayle 12; Ella McGowan eight; and Natalie Santiago seven.

The Rams were 7-of-14 (50 percent) from the foul line and they also had five 3-pointers, three from Lia, and two from McGowan.

Hampden has two games left this season before the playoffs. Both are on the road, the first at Lewiston on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and the last regular season game at Oxford Hills, Thursday, Feb. 10

On a personal note, Hampden was without its Head Coach, Nick Winchester, who was out sick and unable to make this game. I felt bad for coach, tough game to have to miss, know they all did their job and made you proud! Get better soon , coach! 

DEERING----15---3---7---7---6---38
HAMPDEN--13---4---5---10--10--42