Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
BREESE — With only two seniors plus just one junior on the roster and a starting lineup that includes three freshmen, Nashville Hornettes’ head coach Dempsey Witte wasn’t sure how his young team would react taking on defending state champion Breese Mater Dei for a regional championship–on the Lady Knights’ home floor.
Witte’s youthful Hornettes did just fine, rallying from a 14-point third quarter deficit to beat Mater Dei 70-62 in quadruple overtime.
Freshman twin sisters Samantha (22 points) and Summer Brinkmann (20 points) combined for 42 points to lead the Nashville attack, with sophomore Emma Behrmann adding 16 points and nine rebounds, while trying to deal with 6’6” junior Alyssa Koerkenmeier on the defensive end.
Koerkenmeier led the Lady Knights with 16 points. Lily Butler and Avery Trame added 13 each with Maris Zurliene tallying 11 for Mater Dei.
The Hornettes improve to 29-3. They will get to return home for the sectional, where they will face Massac County at 6:00 Tuesday in the first semifinal. Breese Central and Vienna will follow in the second semifinal Tuesday. The winners will play for the Nashville Sectional title Thursday night.
