MICHIGAN CITY — With 5.3 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s first-round girls basketball sectional game, Michigan City was one free throw away from ending Hobart’s season.
Wolves star Michal Miller stood at the line, making the Brickies’ chances appear all the more bleak. One clank off the rim, one rebound and two passes later, sophomore Alaina Richter swished a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as Hobart stunned Michigan City 37-36.
“I was out of timeouts, but they understood the situation,” Hobart coach Mike Hamacher said. “We had two shooters down the floor in the corners. A sophomore hitting that three showed a lot of fearlessness. I’ve seen a lot of kids put it in their pocket and not even get a shot up, because they’re afraid to miss that.”
Hobart fell behind 12-0 in the first 2:30 of the game, but the Brickies slowly chipped away at the deficit. They drew even on three different occasions, but didn’t take their first lead of the game until Richter’s buzzer-beating three.
Miller posted a game-high 18 points on the final night of her prep career. The Wolves (12-11) had defeated the Brickies (15-9) 53-32 on Dec. 16.
Cailin Trezak led Hobart with 10 points and Maddie Leonard played well on defense, but it was Richter who came through when it mattered most. The three as time expired was her second made shot of the game.
“I knew that we needed three points in order to win it,” Richter said. “I didn’t even think I was behind the three-point line at first when I shot it; I thought it was going to be a two. I knew when it left my hands that I was going to hit. I’ll never forget it.”
Valparaiso cruises to victory
Four years of postseason frustration came to an end for Valparaiso in Wednesday’s first game. Not only did the Vikings record their first postseason win since Feb. 13, 2010, but they did so in style, routing rival Chesterton 72-35.
A day after not working on shooting in practicing, Valparaiso (13-10) made 11-of-22 three-point attempts. Nicole Chiabai poured in a career-high 19 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance to pave the way.
“We were all a little worried, because losing to Chesterton in a sectional game would have been awful,” Chiabai said. “[Wednesday] could have been my last game as a senior, so we were all ready for it.”
Grace Withrow was also a force, totaling 17 points and draining three 3-pointers. The seniors notched the first sectional victory of their careers in the first postseason game under coach Candy Wilson.
The Trojans (11-11) committed 22 turnovers, while the Vikings finished with 15 steals.
“We had no answer for them,” Chesterton coach Jack Campbell said. “If they keep playing like this, they’re liable to win the whole thing.”
Brandon Vickrey is a freelance writer.
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