HS Girls Basketball: Shelton Survives Dramatic Overtime over Black Hills on the Road

(1/7/26)

The undefeated Shelton Highclimbers went on the road to face the Black Hills Wolves in each team’s first league game of the year. It was all one could hope for with swinging momentum changes, high-scoring performances, and clutch shots that drove the game into overtime. Shelton was 6-0 coming into the game, while Black Hills was 7-4 on the season. Both teams put on a show down to the wire in what was a great way to begin league play in the 2A Evco

First Half

Black Hills got off to an immediate great start with two straight scores from Taylor Morrison. This was followed by an Ellie Johnson long two-pointer that would put the Wolves up 6-0 early. The defense for the home team got into a groove and didn’t let any shots come easy while also forcing turnovers. Ceday Wily for Shelton started the game with a three-pointer and showed her versatility early on, which would be the beginning of an outstanding game from her.

The Highclimbers were having good half-court sets and getting opportunities, but the Wolves’ defense swarmed to the ball and caused a slight scoring drought in the first quarter. To end that drought, Janelle Krise hit a three for Shelton before Tyler Venable got an and-one layup for Black Hills moments later. With seven seconds left in the first, Venable put up a fast break layup as time expired to enhance the Wolves’ lead. The Wolves led 13-7 going into the second quarter.

Shelton got off to a great start in the second quarter with Olivia Swanson hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key. Janelle Krise would then get an offensive rebound and putback to bring the game within three. Ashlei Borden would then come down and hit a wing three to tie the game, and momentum had swung to the Highclimbers. Tyler Venable however would respond with an and-one layup on the next possession.

Taylor Morrison and Nat Buchanan then had back to back scores for the Wolves and kust like that were back in a rhythm. Morrison would then come down and hit a three to bring the lead to eight for Black Hills. Tyler Venable with five seconds left in the first half put up a floater that banked in, similar to the first quarter and that is how the first half concluded. Black Hills led 29-20 at halftime.

Second Half

Major adjustments were made at halftime for Shelton as they came out dominant in the second half. The biggest reason was the offensive production of Cedar Wily, who became unstoppable in the paint. She would score the first six points of the second half for Shelton and bring the game within three points. After Black Hills free throws, again Wily found herself one-on-one in the paint, and she made it count with the bucket.

Ashley Hermenegildo then stepped through the defense and banked in a shot to tie the game for Shelton. Tyler Venable stopped the bleeding with a midrange shot and, paired with some free throws, brought the lead back to four. Black Hills led 34-33 going into the fourth quarter.

Janelle Krise would open up the fourth quarter with an and-one layup to give Shelton back the lead. Not for long, though, as Taylor Morrison puts up a falling-away shot for the Wolves. Both teams would exchange free throws as time trickled down in the quarter. Nat Buchanan would then hit a clutch midrange jumper to give the Wolves a three-point lead. Cedar Wily, though, responded with a put-back layup on the next possession.

Ellie Johnson then hit a clutch midrange as well for Black Hills, followed by a steal and fast break layup for Tyler Venable. Janelle Krise followed that up with a putback layup off a missed free throw to bring it within one. Cedar Wily again got the ball in the post and went to work, scoring and taking the lead back with little time left on the clock. The Wolves would be forced to foul, and Janelle Krise would hit two free throws to make it a three-point game. With five seconds on the clock, Nat Buchanan got the ball on the wing and pump-faked once, then, after the defense jumped, launched a three-pointer that went in to send the game to overtime.

Overtime

In overtime, Tyler Venable got fouled on a shot and made one of her two free throws. Nat Buchanan followed that up with a midrange shot of her own. Ceday Wily continued her great night in the paint with yet another post basket, and both teams began to trade blows. Shelton’s Sonni Cordova got her first point of the night in a major way with a clutch put-back layup that gave the Highclimbers the lead.

Wily again continued to rack up points as she got another opportunity in the paint and extended Shelton’s lead. With 1:40 left in the game, Olivia Swanson fired a deep three with seven seconds left on the shot clock and drained it. This would effectively be the dagger for Black Hills as they would go on to lose 59-53 in one of the most exciting games of the year in the 2A EvCo.

MVP and Stats

The Thorbecks’ MVP of the game was Cedar Wily, who scored 25 points throughout the night and dominated in the paint for the entire game. Black Hills did not have many answers for her, and she was scoring at will, it seemed, especially in the clutch. It was an all-around amazing performance, though, from Shelton, and their resiliency was on full display. Janelle Krise had 15 points for Shelton as well. Olivia Swanson had seven, Ashlei Borden had six, Ashley Hermenegildo had three, and Sonni Cordova had two.

Black Hills played a great game as well, but unfortunately fell short. Tyler Venable finished the game with 19 points. Nat Buchanan had an outstanding clutch performance and hit the shot to send the game to overtime. She finished with 12 points. Taylor Morrison had 12, Ellie Johnson had six, and Cassidy O’Reily had two, as well as Haley McMahon.

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