Late-game heroics lead Lew Port to B1 crown

Lewiston-Porter senior Tessa Schuey was simply in the right place at the right time and then found the right teammate, junior Sophie Auer, who put in the game-winning basket as the Lancers beat the Depew Wildcats 60-57 to capture the Section VI Girls Class B1 Championship Sunday.

Depew had a chance to win, or at least take the game to overtime, getting the ball with 19.9 seconds left. However, an attempt by a Wildcat to save an errant pass from going out went right into the hands of Schuey. The senior then passed it off to a streaking Auer under the basketball to make it 59-57 Lancers.

Winning Basket from @LPGbball Sophie Auer @LP_GreenMachine @LewPortLancers pic.twitter.com/3HENyC9rWJ — Francis Boeck (@FrancisBoeck) March 6, 2022

Auer, who led Lew-Port with 22 points, was fouled on the shot and converted on the free throw. Depew entrusted the final shot to captain Kaylee Krysztof with 3.9 seconds to go, but her three-point attempt went off the rim.

With the win, Lewiston-Porter earned its fourth sectional title, the first since 2005.

The thrilling final minute of action of indicative of the game itself. The largest lead either team had was nine. Lew-Port started to build their lead late in the second quarter after going to a full-court trap defense. They stopped the Wildcats on five-straight defensive possessions to take a 32-29 lead at the half.

Depew’s offense found their groove midway through the third going on a 12-3 run to tie the game at 46 going in the fourth.

Lewiston-Porter moves onto the Section VI Class B Crossover game to take on Eden, who beat Southwestern 58-39 in the Class B2 affair. Tip-off is 5 p.m. Wednesday at Buffalo State College.