Picking the turning point of the District V girls basketball championship game between Meade and Glenelg is difficult. Was it Glenelg's zone, its 3-point shots, Emily Russo's 26 points, Sam Heisig's rebounds, the underhand layup Danielle Burris made from an impossible angle or something else entirely different that was the tipping point in Glenelg's 59-55 overtime victory over Meade?
"When they came back in the third quarter and they won that quarter, we started giving up and getting frustrated," said Meade's Imani Bailey, who scored 19 points. "We can't get frustrated when it's not going our way."
With a balanced offensive effort, Meade had a 25-16 lead at the half.
Glenelg was putting up shots, but not hitting them. At the Meade end of the floor, forward Diamond Henson had 10 points from a combination of short bank shots and free throws.
"We definitely went into the locker room frustrated," said Burris. "All season, no matter what the score, we know we have to come out stronger. We never gave up and I think that's what Meade expected us to do."
Instead Glenelg switched to a 3-2 zone to shut off Meade's inside game.
"That was a good strategy move for them," said Meade coach Reggie Leach. "Our guards weren't able to slash through the zone as much, and our post players had to attack from the baseline, but one of our best post players (Jamie McKeiter) fouled out."
While Russo carried her team through the first half, scoring 12 of Glenelg's 16 points, she got scoring help after halftime. The Gladiators went on a 14-3 run late in the third quarter to draw to within two points of Meade.
"It seemed like the momentum switched. The first half they had it and in the second half, it came to us," Burris said.
The Gladiators hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter to help swing the momentum.
"I've always said if our threes drop, the complexion of the game changes," said Glenelg coach Don Beall.
"Once we started hitting our outside shots and attacking, that's how we got back in the game," Russo said. "It was a huge team effort."
Glenelg went ahead in the fourth quarter, but Bailey tied the score 49-all with 25 seconds left in regulation. She was fouled on the shot, but missed the free throw that would have put her team in front.
Each team had the opportunity to win in the closing seconds of regulation. Glenelg missed two scoring opportunities, Meade rebounded both, but turned the ball over and the game went to overtime.
Meade jumped out in front, 52-49, in the extra period, but Glenelg wasn't ready to lose.
"We were working as a team and we just didn't want to lose," Yuan said.
Russo scored seven points in overtime.
"Emily once again just took over the game," Beall said.
In the three years the District V championship game has been held, Howard County has won the game. River Hill won the first year. This year's game was a rematch of last year's game, also won by Glenelg.
M – Bailey 19, Henson 13, McKeither 11, Witty 6, Jackson 4, Banks 2. FT: 11-27.
G – Russo 26, Heisig 12, Yuan 8, Parker 6, Burris 4, Kittleman 3. FT: 7-18
Halftime: Meade, 25-16.