With Game On The Foul Line, Niebuhr Delivers Senior Makes Important Free Throws In 42-41 District-Clinching Victory

The smile on Jennifer Niebuhr’s face following Lakeside’s 42-41 A-4 District I tournament-clinching win over Falls Christian Friday said it all.

The Lakeside senior could finally relax.

Fighting off the anxiety of a vocal crowd and the tension of an extremely tight ballgame, Niebuhr had calmly stepped to the free throw line with 19 seconds left and buried two of the most important shots of her four-year career.

Just how important were those free throws?

They gave the Knights a seemingly safe 42-38 lead and, with leading scorer Margret SiJohn on the bench with five fouls, some much-needed breathing room.

But the game was far from over.

After a Falls Christian turnover, Lakeside had a chance to put the game away, but junior Harmany Hammons missed a pair of free throws with 10 seconds remaining.

That gave the Eagles one last chance.

Falls Christian went to North Star League-leading scorer Sarah Peterson, who launched a 3-pointer from the top of the key that went in with 2 seconds left.

But the Eagles were out of timeouts and the Knights simply let the clock run out to secure the win - and with it, a trip to the State A-4 Tournament that starts Thursday in Jerome. Lakeside will meet District III runner-up Cambridge in the first round.

Niebuhr said she knew the importance of those free throws when she went to the line.

“I knew I had to make em,” she said. It’s my senior year and I wanted to go to state. When (SiJohn) fouled out, that was a big factor and I knew I had to step it up even more.”

Lakeside coach Ron Miller said he was confident Niebuhr could deliver.

“It helps to have seniors out there at the end. Jennifer gets her chance and it’s not even close,” he said, smiling. “She just steps up there and buries ‘em both.”

Lakeside ran its record to 16-5 and defended its District title, while Falls Christian fell to 15-6.

The game, played before about 300 fans at Lakeland High School, featured two of the top scorers in the North Star League in Peterson and SiJohn. Those who anticipated a duel were not disappointed.

SiJohn scored 18 points and had eight rebounds while Peterson finished with 20 points.

But the two effectively canceled each other out, and the difference in the game, according to Miller, was in the supporting casts.

“Margret (SiJohn) put us on her back and carried us for a long time,” Miller said. “But the other kids responded tonight when they had to.

“I always felt all year that I had the strongest bench in the league. This was just a good team effort.”

Niebuhr’s 12 points backed up SiJohn, who was relatively quiet after scoring 12 points in the first half. And while those two were providing the bulk of the offense, 5-2 senior guard Ruth Brand was supplying the defense.

Brand was assigned to guard Peterson and held her to just six points on 3-for-11 shooting in the first half.

“Brand might be the best defensive player in the league,” Miller said. “She’s quick, she’s up there in your face, she’s right in there. Ruth played to her strength tonight.”

The Eagles got a solid game out of senior Audrey Wallace, who, like Peterson, was playing her last game as an Eagle. Wallace had 12 points, eight of those coming in the first half.

Falls Christian coach Phyllis Tuttle had praise for her team following the game.

“This was a great season for us,” she said. “We had a lot of fun and exceeded all of our expectations.

“I don’t think any team can have more heart or guts than this team did. … and we only lost by one lousy point.”

Lakeside 42, Falls Christian 41

Lakeside 11 10 10 11 - 42

Falls Christian 10 8 12 11 - 41

LAKESIDE SiJohn 18, Middleton 4, Flint 1, Niebuhr 12, Brand 1, Hammons 4, Hoffman 2.

FALLS CHRISTIAN Wallace 12, Pang 0, Peterson 20, Jackson 2, Moate 2, Gelnette 2, Jenkins 3.

, DataTimes