MERRY HILL – Hobgood Academy left the contest like they came in – leading the league.

It wasn’t as simple as that, however. It took a last-second shot from Morgan Medford to save the Lady Raiders after Lawrence Academy nearly pulled off the biggest upset in Jack Williford’s three years at the helm.

Lawrence grabbed a 42-40 lead with 2:21 to play in the game when senior Ashtyn Mizelle went to the free throw line and hit both ends of a 1-plus-1.

The Raiders had the chance to tie the score with two minutes remaining, but missed a pair of free throws. Seconds later, however, Schuyler Edmondson hit both ends of a 1-plus-1 to tie the score.

The Lady Warriors appeared to be headed for the victory when Jennifer White stole the ball and had a fast-break opportunity, but she was fouled with 13 seconds remaining.

After a free throw gave Lawrence the lead, Hobgood coach Pamela Tutor called a timeout. The Lady Raiders worked the basketball around until getting it to Medford for a baseline jumper as time expired. The shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net, giving Hobgood the come-from-behind win.

“Our girls played a wonderful game,” Williford said. “We were right there and just got beat on a last-second shot. They played their hearts out.”

Lawrence was led by Mizelle’s double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Casey Belch added 10 points, Taylor Sexton had nine and Ashton Liverman added four points and five rebounds.

“We really needed the rebounding we had tonight,” Williford said. “We had too many turnovers, but the rebounds kept us in the game.”

Edmondson led the Lady Raiders with 18 points while Bobbi Stewart added nine points. Medford had eight.

The Lady Raiders took an early lead in the contest thanks to a field goal from Medford and one from Edmondson. Sexton, however, scored twice and Belch did the same as Lawrence rallied to take an 8-5 edge.

The Lady Warriors held the same three-point edge (11-8) at the end of the first quarter thanks to a bucket by Mizelle and a free throw by Sexton.

Hobgood rallied to the lead in the second quarter thanks to a three-pointer by Stewart and an Edmondson bucket, but Mizelle scored for Lawrence to tie the score at 13-all with 5:54 to play in the second period.

The Lady Raiders then rolled off eight unanswered to take a 21-13 lead with 3:12 to play in the quarter. Stewart had four points on the spurt while Medford and Sarah Gregory Sykes added two each.

Lawrence came back thanks to three straight hoops – one each from Mizelle, White and Sexton – to close the gap to 21-19 at the intermission.

Mizelle scored to tie the game with 7:45 to play in the third quarter, but Medford responded to put the Raiders ahead again.

Belch and Mizelle scored successive buckets for the Lady Warriors and then Lyle hit back-to-back shots as Lawrence climbed ahead 29-23.

Hobgood, however, rallied back with Stewart scoring four straight and Kathy Barnhill adding a hoop that tied the score at the end of the third quarter.

The Lady Warriors opened the fourth period on a 6-0 spurt thanks to four points from Belch and two from Sexton, only to see Hobgood get four straight from Edmondson and two from Madison Josey to tie the score at 35-all with 5:40 remaining in the contest.

Kendra Spruill hit a pair of free throws to put Lawrence ahead, but Stewart and Edmondson answered for the Lady Raiders.

Spruill hit 3-of-4 from the line to give Lawrence a 40-39 edge, but Edmondson’s free throw tied the game with 3:11 to play setting up the final series of events.

Lawrence will take the week off in preparation for exams and be back in action next week.