Doleschy's late hoop lifts AHS to upset

Posted: Jan. 29, 2013

Maggie Doleschy and her Arrowhead girls basketball teammates turned into giant killers Tuesday.

Visiting New Berlin Eisenhower, ranked No. 4 in this week's AP Division 2 state poll, came into the nonconference battle sporting an impressive 14-1 record. But thanks to a late basket by Doleschy in overtime, the Warhawks stunned Eisenhower, 50-48.

With the score deadlocked at 48-48, Arrowhead first-year coach Rick Witte called timeout with his team in possession of the ball with 21.5 seconds remaining in overtime.

As time ran down, the play Witte wanted didn't develop and Doleschy got caught with the ball with 10 seconds to play at the top of the key. The senior point guard drove hard to the basket and threw up a layup contested by two Ike defenders. After hanging on the rim for a few anxious moments, the ball fell into the hoop with 8.9 seconds to play.

Eisenhower tried to get off a possible game-tying or game-winning shot but had no luck as time ran out with the ball on the floor.

"We had a play called and we were supposed to get it to Kelly (Smith)," Doleschy said. "Kelly was supposed to get the ball on the opposite wing, and she wasn't there. That's when I saw an opening and took it. I was right under the rim and was just praying the ball would go in. It felt great to see the ball fall through the hoop."

Arrowhead improved to 10-7 overall. The Warhawks will host Waukesha North (7-9, 2-7) at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Eisenhower fell to 14-2.

The score bounced back and forth all night. Eisenhower led 11-8 after the first period, and the two teams were tied at 23 at the intermission. Arrowhead held the Lions to just 2 points in the third quarter to take a 33-25 edge. The Lions roared back in the final period, eventually forcing overtime when Jenny Weiland sank two clutch free throws with eight tenths of a second to play.

Eisenhower actually stole the ensuing inbound and missed a jump shot from the foul line that would have won the game.

In overtime, AHS never trailed. Smith sank two free throws to put her team on top with 2:37 left on the clock. Smith made 12 of 13 free throws for the game.

Doleschy then made one foul shot, and NBE tied it again when Weiland made a shot jump shot with 43.8 seconds remaining.

From there, the Warhawks ran time off the clock andeventually won the game on Doleschy's layup. For the night, AHS made 17 of 22 foul shots compared to 16 of 25 for the Lions.

"It felt good to finally win one of these close games," Witte said. "We had some good runs and some times we struggled. We had some turnovers that hurt late in regulation and in overtime. But we did enough good things to pull it out. The turnovers hurt us, but the kids did a nice job at the free throw line."

Smith almost scored half of her team's points, with 24. Sophomore center Ally May added 11 points for the winners, and Tori Miller had 6.

Weiland led Eisenhower with 15 points.