Dodson wins game with two players at finish

"If you three can show your hearts now and fight to get this win, you will remember it for a very long time," Dodson Lady Coyotes Head Coach Clayton KillEagle told Jean Jackson, Emma Cole and Jaymiee Stiffarm, the lone three Dodson players on the court against Lustre, last Saturday night in an away game.

The Dodson Lady Coyotes basketball team had a long weekend, but held on to pick up their third win in three nights; the last game, against Lustre, ultimate with only two players left on the court in regulation.

The Lady Coyotes squared off against the Nashua Lady Porcupines on Thursday, January 14, in Nashua. Dodson, led by a 25-point game by Melony Fetter, won the game 50-32. Kataya KillEagle had eight points.

Dodson had the team’s senior night and senior giveaway festivities on Friday, January 15; Melony Fetter and Ireland Best were honored. The game that night ended up being a 61-19 win over the Frazer Lady Bear Cubs in Dodson’s Coyote Den (gymnasium).

“The Lady Coyotes looked sharp and determined,” Coach KillEagle said.

The team was led by sisters M. Fetter and Lindsey Fetter, who both scored 16 points. K. KillEagle had 14 points.

Though the team had battled tough in their games leading up to Saturday, their clash against Lustre on Saturday night, was a true test of the team’s depth and perseverance. The Lady Coyote won 54-53.

According to Coach KillEagle, the Lady Coyotes started off slow, missing one key shots, and fell behind 12-7 by the end of the first quarter.

The team’s woes continued into the second quarter as one player racked up four fouls and two others were charged with three fouls. Despite the foul trouble, the Lady Coyotes were up 26-19 at halftime thanks to a pair of threes made by M. Fetter and forced turnovers on defense.

In the fourth quarter, the team suffered their first injury of the night when K. Kataya injured her arm and was unable to return to the game with six minutes to go.

With four minutes left in the game L. Fetter fouled out, then Imagin Fox fouled out with a little over three minutes remaining. At that point, the Lady Coyotes were down to their last five players; M. Fetter, Best, Jackson, Emma Cole and Jaymiee Stiffarm.

Best and M. Fetter would pick up their final fouls with 1:30 in and the game.

“This will go down in my book as the longest 1:30 i have ever experienced,” Coach KillEagle said. “The Lady Coyotes, with the three girls left, are clinging on to a two point lead against the five still standing Lustre team.”

With only Jackson, Cole, and Stiffarm in the game for Dodson, Coach KillEagle assured them that if they could hold on and win, that it will be in their memory for years to come.

“ As the clock slowly made its way down with each possession trading baskets and free throws second by second, the girls managed to fight hard and not give up,” Coach KillEagle said.

Coach KillEagle also said that though they are not starters, Cole and Stiffarm showed their leadership and will to survive because eventually, they were the last two Lady Coyotes on the floor.

Jackson left the game with less than two seconds remaining after drawing a heroic charge call to seal the game. But Jackson was injured on the play and was unable to return.

With 1.4 seconds remaining and control of the ball, Stiffarm launched a long pass to Cole to expire the clock and seal the game with a 54-53 victory.

K.KillEagle and Jackson were both transported to Frances Mahon Deaconness Hospital in Glasgow. Their recovery times have not yet been determined.