Chesire – First, Kati Fuller beat the odds.

Monday, February 07, 2000

Chesire – First, Kati Fuller beat the odds. Then she beat the River Valley Lady Raiders. Fuller’s game-winning basket with time running out gave the Chesapeake Lady Panthers a 60-58 win over River Valley Saturday night.

"Kati went basically 3-on-1 and still hit the shot. She came through for us," Panthers coach Lynn Sheets said.

"But I’m so proud of all my kids. They just fought and found a way to win. They came through in a tough situation. They fought for everything they could get."

Fuller had a game-high 29 points for Chesapeake (12-7). Kim Frye added 10 points and Michelle Elkins nine.

Cynthia Ward led River Valley with 22 points and Jessica Griffith had 13.

Casee Justice had six points the first quarter to put River Valley ahead 12-10. Fuller had eight of Chesapeake’s points.

Lindsey Stiltner and Elkins had five points each the second quarter as Chesapeake rallied to take a 27-23 halftime lead. Fuller was injured after scoring five points in the quarter, too.

"Our girls stepped up when Kati went out. That was big for us," said Sheets.

Despite 10 points by Ward, Chesapeake’s lead grew to 44-35 after three quarters.

Ward got nine points in the fourth and the Raiders hit 14 of 18 at the line to tie the game.

But Fuller, who scored 12 points in the quarter, hit a jumper with two seconds left to win the game.

"Kati took over the game the fourth quarter. She showed great senior leadership," said Sheets.

The Lady Panthers were 15 of 23 from the line for the game including 6 of 7 the fourth quarter. River Valley converted 23 of 39 foul shots.

Chesapeake hosts Portsmouth Thursday in the regular season finale.

CHESAPEAKE – 10 17 17 16 – 60: Kati Fuller 10 0 9-11 29, Kim Frye 2 2 0-0 10, Michelle Elkins 4 0 1-3 9, Erin Sutphin 2 1 0-0 7, Lindsey Stiltner 0 0 5-6 5, Tiffany Porter 0 0 0-1 0, Shawna Gore 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 18 3 15-23 60. Fouls: 28. Fouled out: Stiltner, Sutphin.

RIVER VALLEY – 12 11 12 23 – 58: Cynthia Ward 5 3 3-8 22, Jessica Griffith 3 0 7-10 13, Casee Justice 0 1 6-9 9, Chelsea Degarmo 2 0 4-6 8, Autumn Murphy 1 0 0-0 2, Andrea Neutzling 1 0 0-0 2, Christine Baird 0 0 1-3 1, Nicole Watkins 0 0 0-2 0. Totals: 12 4 23-39 58. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.