by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Crusader girls go into Christmas break at 2-3 not what they expected from the preseason. Still, Friday night’s action was clearly their best game of the season thus far.

Wellington lost to Rose Hill 44-42 in overtime Friday evening in the home opener. The Lady Dukes fell to 0-2 in the AV-CTL DIV. Before the season started, these two teams were considered the two teams to beat in the league.

The Crusaders turned ice cold when it counted the most, after leading for more than 3 1/2 quarters.

In fact, Rose Hill led in regulation just once and that was near the end of the first quarter. After Lauryn Snipes hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Crusaders a 11-10 lead, the Dukes would not relinquish the lead until the 32 second mark of overtime. The final score was the only time the Rockets led from the second quarter on.

It was a frustrating defeat, but it was also gratifying. Rose Hill came into the game undefeated and ranked sixth in the latest KBCA poll. Compared to Wellington’s first four games, this was the first time the Lady Dukes resembled the team of 2015-16.

“I tell you what we could see this team on three more occasions,” said Eric Adams, Wellington head girls basketball coach. “They are very senior laden.

“Our record is very deceiving,” Adams continued. “If we play with the kind of energy and effort that we did tonight, we are going to have a very, very successful season.”

Rusk’s layup early in the fourth quarter gives Wellington a 7-point lead.

Wellington was leading 31-24 with 7:22 in the fourth after Avery Rusk made a steal and layup.

But Rose Hill came roaring back and narrowed the margin to two with 3 minutes to play.

Wellington upped the lead to four with 1:30 to play, but would come up empty on its three final possessions in regulation.

Rose Hill would score on all of its free throws to send the game into overtime.

The overtime stanza proved to be frustrating especially at the line where Wellington would miss five straight free throws, giving Rose Hill an opportunity to steal one at Crusader gymnasium.

Rusk led the team with 17 points. Snipes followed with 8.

Rose Hill had just three players score. Anna Van Driel led the Rockets with 24 points. Wellington now has Christmas break before squaring off at Mulvane on Jan. 3.

Rose Hill 44 Wellington 42

Rose Hill 10 5 9 14 (6) — 44

Wellington 11 9 9 9 (4) — 42

Rose Hill: Herman 11, Van Driel 24, Woods 9. Total: 13 (2) 12-22 44.

Wellington: T. French 6, Snipes 8, S. French 1, Rusk 17, Adams 6, Wilson 4. Total: 11 (3) 11-19 42.

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