The Manchester Lady Squires came up just short in the Wabash County Tournament championship game, falling to Wabash 61-55 in an overtime battle on Saturday night. The Lady Squires showed resilience throughout the contest, erasing a seven-point third-quarter deficit and forcing overtime with a dramatic buzzer-beater.
Hanna Stout hit crucial shots late in the fourth quarter to give Manchester a lead with 25 seconds remaining, but Wabash answered with a basket and two free throws to go up by three. With just three seconds left, Allie Egolf’s long pass found Emma Walker, who launched a shot from just beyond half court that went in at the buzzer, tying the game at 50 and sending it to overtime.
In the extra period, foul trouble caught up with the Lady Squires, but they continued to fight until the final whistle. Despite the loss, the Lady Squires displayed grit and determination, earning praise for their effort.
Walker led Manchester with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Peyton Ream, Hanna Stout, and Hadley West each added nine points, with Stout contributing six rebounds and West adding four rebounds and two assists. Molly Schannep chipped in eight points and seven rebounds, while Ava Sautter filled the stat sheet with seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and five steals.
The Lady Squires now turn their attention to the remainder of the season, using the experience from this hard-fought championship game to fuel their drive moving forward.
