As the final seconds were ticking off the clock, the Teutopolis Lady Shoes were passing the ball around, looking for a good shot.
It came to Mollie Ruholl in the corner. The junior lefthander then let her shot fly from behind the arc. It swished through the net with just two seconds remaining to put the Lady Shoes on top.
One desperation heave later and the T-Town girls were celebrating their 15th straight regional title. Ruholl’s shot gave them a 43-40 victory over Mt. Carmel in the championship game of the Class 2A Lawrenceville Sectional.
It was a close game from the second quarter on. The Lady Aces jumped out to a quick double-digit lead and led 12-4 after the opening eight minutes. But the Lady Shoes drilled five three-pointers in the second quarter. Summer Wall had a pair, while Chloe Probst, Ruholl and Anna Probst also connected from long range, helping THS go on a 23-14 run and take a 27-26 lead at halftime.
It was still a slim one-point lead, 37-36, as the two teams headed to the final quarter.
Both offenses virtually came to a stop in the last eight minutes. Mt. Carmel made just one basket and two free throws, while the Shoes were 3-for-8 from the line. Their only basket was the game-winner by Ruholl at the end.
Ruholl and Chloe Probst led the T-Town scoring attack with 10 points each, while Wall and Anna Probst both scored eight and Isabelle Zerrusen added seven.
The Lady Shoes improved to 20-11 on the season and will advance to the Newton Sectional. They will play at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Maroa-Forsythe, who captured the Sullivan Regional.
