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Coming through in the clutch
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Rachel Johnson’s jumper from the baseline with 10.2 seconds to play Monday night proved to be the difference as the Dibrell Lady Wildcats downed the Eastside Lady Bulldogs 22-21.In a bid to start the elementary girls 7-8 grade season with two straight wins, Dibrell needed nearly every second of Monday’s game against the visiting Lady Bulldogs to seal its second victory.Johnson’s short shot, which was step up by Bailey Barrett’s cross-court pass, gave Dibrell a 22-19 lead and completed a fourth-quarter comeback for the Lady Wildcats.Eastside had a chance to send the game to overtime, but the Lady Bulldogs had a communication breakdown to end the game.Coach Leanne Morrison called a time-out to set up a play in attempt to free Jayden Smith for a tying 3-pointer, but the Dibrell defense patrolled the outside line tenaciously.Seeing the stingy Lady Wildcats holding their ground, Smith cut to the baseline where Rylan Moore hit her with a pass.Smith hit a layup at the buzzer, but the two points left Eastside one point short as the Lady Bulldogs fell to 0-2 this season.Eastside led 16-12 when the fourth quarter started, but two free throws from Allie Winkler and a bank shot by Johnson knotted the score at 16.Dibrell took its first lead of the final quarter with 3:10 to play when Sianna Womack powered up on the low block for a layup. Ali Wrisner added a jumper with 1:22 remaining to help the Lady Wildcats lead 20-16.Eastside was frantic in the final minute with its press to try to get back in the game. The full-court defense caused havoc as Moore had a steal to set up a layup for Smith with 47.7 seconds left.Another turnover gave the Lady Bulldogs a chance to tie late.