POWAY – After Whitney Wise's miracle floater in the last second of regulation sent the game into overtime, it looked like the Escondido girls basketball team was destined to upset No. 1 seed Poway last night in the section Division I semifinals.
But the heat of the moment got the best of the Cougars, and Poway prevailed on its home court in the overtime thriller 56-52.
“I think the nervousness probably kicked in,” said Escondido coach Chris Williams, whose team committed three turnovers in the four-minute OT. “We didn't do what we were supposed to do. They were the better team today.”
The Cougars did take care of the ball for most of the game. Escondido (20-10) had only two turnovers in the first half, while Poway (26-3) had 10.
Poway's Katie Kuklok led the Titans with six points in the extra period, and 19 in the game. Post player Mariah Horvath, who suffered an eye injury in the first quarter, had 18 points and was 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
“(Horvath is) a big-time player,” said Poway coach Jay Trousdale. “That's an impressive effort.”
Horvath had the unenviable task of guarding Escondido star forward Tayler Williams in the low post. Williams had 11 points.
Poway double-teamed Williams in the fourth quarter and in overtime, and constantly denied entry passes to the low post.
“We had two girls on her because we know she's tough,” Trousdale said. Williams fouled out with 12 seconds left in overtime, and the Cougars trailing 55-52. Kuklok hit a free throw to seal the win for the Titans.
“I'm proud of the girls,” Chris Williams said. “This is the farthest they've ever been (in the CIF playoffs).”
Escondido outplayed the Titans in the first quarter, starting the game with a 7-0 run. Poway looked out of sync early, committing four turnovers in the first two minutes. Poway trailed 15-10 after the first.
Escondido guard Brittany Parks had a team-high eight points in the first half, and led the Cougars with 14 in the game.
Poway took its first lead of the game with four minutes left in the second quarter, as Kuklok hit the first of her four 3-pointers to make it 19-18. The Titans took a 25-22 lead into halftime.
But the Cougars took back control in the third, led by Parks who scored six points in the quarter.
With 10 seconds left in regulation and the Cougars trailing 48-46, Williams called a timeout to settle his team down.
Wise's game-tying bucket, which was her first field goal of the game, stunned the home crowd. But the Titans outscored the Cougars 8-4 in OT.
