Iowa senior JoAnn Hamlin dominated the floor in leading Active Endeavors/McCurry’s to a 99-94 overtime victory against L.L. Pelling/Cullen Painting, despite trailing, 48-34, at halftime of Tuesday’s contest in North Liberty.
The game couldn’t be decided in regulation because of a brilliant comeback by Active Endeavors/McCurry’s, which is undefeated in Game Time action.
In a contest featuring two of the summer’s best Game Time teams, Hamlin looked strong from the outset, scoring a game-high 34 points while adding eight rebounds and three assists.
After winning the tip-off to start the game, Hamlin got things started with the first basket. Active Endeavors/McCurry’s, however, was outplayed most of the first half.
After trailing by 14 at the half, Hamlin knew she had to come out strong in the second half if her team was going to have a chance of winning, and she and her teammates did. Then, Hamlin was fouled twice in the last two minutes of the game and drained all four free-throw attempts.
In the final 10 seconds of regulation, she looked to be fouled hard but didn’t get the call she wanted.
Even though Pelling/ Cullen led almost the entire game, Active Endeavors/McCurry’s pulled off an improbable victory.
Pushing the pace for Pelling/Cullen was Iowa’s Trisha Nesbitt, an incoming freshman from Ames. She wasn’t particularly thrilled with giving up such a huge lead at halftime and let everyone on the floor know.
Nesbitt controlled the tempo of the game from the get-go. Despite not having any college experience, she looked to be in total control of the game and looked to dictate offensive plays.
“I think it’s important to let everyone know where she needs to be so everyone knows what’s going on,” Nesbitt said.
Even though her play has been stellar, she said, she faces some challenges in Game Time as opposed to playing in high school.
“Well, it’s a big step up from high school,” she said. “There are not a couple of great players; all are good, that’s why they play here. It’s a lot quicker, people are a lot stronger. You just have to do what you know how to do, just a lot better.”
Nesbitt looks as though she has what it takes to lead the Hawkeyes in the future, but her play wasn’t enough to help Pelling/Cullen maintain its 14-point halftime lead. Pelling/Cullen head coach Randy Larson said one area Nesbitt has been working on is her shot, and while it’s not where it should be yet, he didn’t hesitate to let her take the last shot that could have ended the game in regulation.
“We got her a wide-open 3 to win the game; it’s a good shot, and she’s got to take it,” Larson said. “It’s not her strength yet. She did a great job on [incoming Iowa freshman Jaime] Printy. Printy got 29, but she made her work.”
Nesbitt knows she has some work to do here and thinks the Game Time is something that will definitely help her.
“She’s a great 3-point shooter,” Larson said. “I don’t think we’ve had a 3-point shooter who is a good a driver as she is who is looking to be a passer. She’s an aggressive scorer who is a natural point guard.”