Foul-Plagued Troy Falls to San Clemente in OT

All five starters for Troy fouled out, and the Warriors were outscored at the free-throw line by 25 points.

And yet, it took an overtime period for fifth-ranked San Clemente to put away third-ranked Troy, 69-64, in an emotionally charged nonleague girls’ basketball game Tuesday.

It was a bitter pill for the Warriors, who won their first 27 games last season only to get knocked out of the playoffs by San Clemente.

“We missed a lot of foul shots, and if we make any of them, we win the game,” Troy Coach Kevin Kiernan said. “I’m happy that we were still in it.”

Troy made only six of 21 free-throws, and made only one of six after its players started fouling out in dizzying succession. The first to go was Veronica Johns-Richardson, who scored 19 before exiting with 6 minutes 2 seconds left in regulation and Troy holding a 54-50 lead.

Stefanie Schilling added a three-point basket, her third, to provide the Warriors a 57-50 lead with 5:46 remaining. But Kianey Givens-Davis (eight points), Katie Hardeman (nine rebounds) and Amanda Livingston (six points, five rebounds) fouled out as San Clemente pecked away at the lead, finally taking it on Livingston’s final foul with 1:09 remaining, Kimberly Noble sinking two free-throws for a 58-57 lead.

Troy answered with Gabrielle Spence’s basket and Alicia Komaki’s free throw, but Cassie Kruger forced overtime with two free throws with 17 seconds left.

In the overtime, San Clemente clinging to a 63-62 lead on two free throws by Noble, Kalena Jackson hit a three-point basket with 1:32 left that was too much for Troy--now without Schilling--to overcome.

San Clemente made 31 of 41 free throws.

Jackson, a transfer from Newport Harbor, scored 19 for San Clemente. Whitney Jones (nine rebounds) scored 16, Kristin Jenkins 14 and Noble 10 (11 rebounds).

San Clemente led after three quarters, 49-46, before Troy reeled off an 8-0 run--then came Johns-Richardson’s final foul and Troy’s effort to hang on fell short.