The Taylorville girls basketball team picked up a memorable 51-48 win after two overtime periods away to Monticello on Saturday.  The Tornadoes squandered two prior chances to put the game away before conserving the three-point lead in the second extra session. 

The two purple-and-gold teams were arguably colder on offense than the weather outside; neither side scored inside the first three minutes.  The teams remained within touching distance throughout the first quarter.  In the second, Monticello gained momentum and went up by eight points thanks to baskets from Ali Weidner and Kiara Grace.  Taylorville answered back with scores from Peyton DeMichael - including a three - and Julie Wayman to ensure they trailed by only two heading to the changing rooms. 

The third quarter was a similar story, except Taylorville trailed by only as much as five and went ahead thanks in part to quick-fire scores from McKynlee Siempelkamp.  The Sages responded to draw level at 36 heading into the fourth quarter.

The offensive struggles continued as neither side could break away in the score.  With seconds left and the scores level at 40, Taylorville had the ball at their baseline with a chance to win it.

The play which coach Hayden Eldred drew up beat Monticello's full-court press as Nora Thomas caught Hope Kietzman's inbound and fed it to a wide open Siempelkamp.  She missed a bank shot from right mid-post, secured the rebound, and appeared to convert the put-back as time expired.  The officials, however, disallowed the basket, saying the second shot left her hand just after the clock hit zero.  They consulted and stuck with the original decision, which meant the game proceeded to overtime. 

In overtime, team foul counts are carried over from the fourth quarter.  Both teams had reached their foul limit well before the end of that quarter, so all defensive fouls from that point on resulted in free throws.  In fact, both teams hit the limit as well in each prior period.

Taylorville edged to two two-point leads and one advantage by three in the first overtime.  Monticello responded in kind each time.  The Tornadoes found themselves with another chance to take the game at the end of the period, this time with an inbound in the front court.  The home side played this one better than in normal time, preventing their opponent from conjuring up a good shot.

Monticello earned six free throws in the second overtime but scored only one, in the period's first score.  Peyton DeMichael and Nora Thomas each scored to put the Tornadoes ahead and force the Sages this time to chase the game.  They could not, and Taylorville returned home with the precious 51-48 win. 

Nora Thomas contributed 13 points.  Her crucial makes at both ends of the game and overall physicality earned her the title of Chill Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game.  Peyton DeMichael followed behind with 12.  Ali Weidner led the scoring for Monticello with 11.

The many fouls in the game put several players on both teams in trouble.  Grace Rogers fouled out in overtime, while three other players for each team finished one away from the same outcome. 

Free-throw shooting got the best of both teams.  Taylorville went 17-for-36 from the line, which edged Monticello's 14-for-31 performance. 

With the win, Taylorville jumps to 7-17 overall.  They are next in action this Friday away to Mahomet-Seymour.  Commentary of that game will, as always, be available on 96.5 The Chill.  Monticello is now at 12-12 overall and turns its attention to the conference with a home game against Paxton-Buckley-Loda next.