Ennis girls basketball season ends on buzzer beater

The Ennis girls basketball team was less than two seconds away from qualifying for the state tournament when Jefferson dropped a contested three pointer from the corner of the arch to end their season. Elation erupted off the Panthers bench into a dogpile while the disappointment of seeing their season end on the wrong side of an incredible play set in on the Mustang players. 

The tournament started ominously for the Mustangs with a  33 point loss to the eventual champions, the Huntley Project Red Devils Thursday morning in Billings. Overstreet got his team to rebound quickly and score a convincing 52-47 win against familiar foes Manhattan in their first loser out match. That win set up a match against Big Timber who was knocked out of the semifinals against Baker on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. 

Ennis played a frantic pace against the Sheep Herders pushing the issue with their full court press early and often throughout the game. Junior guard Marissa Snider was all over the court for the Mustangs as they worked to control play through the first three quarters. Mustangs coaches, players and fans took a collective gasp when Snider went to the floor clutching her left elbow with 5:52 left in the game. Immediately after the injury break, Big Timber tied the game at 43. 

Snider missed less than 30 seconds of game play. When she checked back in, the Sheep Herders took a lead on a long three pointer. Snider immediately went to the other end of the court and answered with a three of her own to tie it again at 46. 

The press continued to pay off and Ennis was back in control executing a patient offense and Mikendra Ledgerwood received an easy ball from Snider to lay in and extend the Mustang lead to 50-47. They eventually won 59-47 and earned a rematch against the Jefferson Panthers who defeated them a week prior in the Girls 5B District Championship game in Manhattan. 

Ennis started the game against Jefferson with their full court press causing issues and forcing early turnovers. Junior forward Brooke Hoyer worked hard on the offensive boards and dropped some open looks early. The Panthers' Cameron Toney answered with a barrage of three pointers that were the difference in the first quarter that saw Jefferson take a one point lead. 

The pace slowed down through the second as the teams traded baskets and played evenly leading into the break. 

The methodical play continued into the third quarter with both teams seeming to conserve energy for the end of their second game of the day. Snider opened up some space against the Jefferson defense driving to the left and Toney went quiet. Ennis took a three point lead into the fourth. 

The teams scored two points each in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. Toney hit a mid-range jumper for Jeffeson to cut the lead to one for the Mustangs with 24 seconds left on the clock. 
Ennis failed to convert on an inbound play and Jefferson found themselves with the ball with 6.7 seconds on the clock. Both teams called a timeout before the Panthers’ possession. The ball moved around the key with the Mustangs stepping up on defense before the final shot went up and in.  

The Mustangs will graduate three starters in the Spring. Looking forward to next season they will return guard Snider along with strong experience from other key players.