Holy Name Outlasts NDCL 52–49 in Overtime Thriller
Holy Name High School girls basketball turned a tense fourth-quarter battle into an overtime statement, edging NDCL 52–49 on the road Saturday night behind dominant double-doubles from Claire Coljohn and Jordan Cremona.
Coljohn powered Holy Name with 27 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Cremona added 15 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. The Namers led 11–6 after the first quarter but saw NDCL chip away, as the hosts outscored Holy Name 11–7 in the second period to trim the deficit. Both teams traded baskets throughout a fast-paced third quarter, each putting up 16 points to set up a tight finish.
Holy Name entered the final minutes clinging to a one-point lead with about 2:30 remaining in regulation. With 1:59 left in the fourth, Coljohn broke free off a feed from Bri Barker and finished a layup to push the Namers in front 44–41. NDCL answered on the next possession with a putback to cut the margin to one, then hit a pull-up jumper with 41 seconds left to grab a 45–44 lead.
After Holy Name came up empty on its next trip, NDCL split a pair of free throws to extend the advantage to 46–44. That set the stage for Cremona, who took the ball with 19 seconds remaining, went the length of the floor, drew a foul and calmly sank two clutch free throws to tie the game and force overtime. The sequence capped a resilient defensive stretch from Holy Name that limited NDCL’s late opportunities and kept the game within one possession.
In overtime, Cremona struck first to give Holy Name the early edge, but NDCL responded by hitting a free throw to pull back within one. The Namers continued to attack the paint and get to the line, with Mihalik splitting a pair of free throws to restore a two-point cushion. Holy Name’s defense tightened in the extra period, contesting shots and finishing possessions on the glass.
The decisive blow came with 58 seconds left in overtime. Off a drive and dish from Cremona, Barker cut to the basket, finished a layup through contact and converted the basket to put Holy Name up by four. That basket proved to be the defining moment of the afternoon, giving the Namers the separation they needed to close out the contest.
Holy Name used the overtime period to finish what it could not in regulation, executing late on both ends of the floor to secure the 52–49 victory. Behind standout efforts from Coljohn and Cremona, timely contributions from Barker and Mihalik, and a series of key defensive stops, the Namers demonstrated poise in a hostile road environment and set a strong tone for the rest of the season.
