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Before tip-off in Friday’s game against Osawatomie, Spring Hill girls’ basketball coach Clay Frigon told his young team, which had just one senior suited up, how hard it is to play the same team twice within a span of less than a week. Spring Hill saw just why.

Just when it appeared the Broncos finally put the finishing touches on the win, Ericka Simpson hit a jumper for a 46-35 lead with 5 minutes and 4 seconds remaining, and the Trojans showed they had some fight left in them.

Unlike the teams’ Dec. 13 meeting, in which Spring Hill started to pull away from Osawatomie in the second quarter after a competitive first, it came down the wire Friday.

“I was so worried,” Frigon said. “We couldn’t put them away. Osawatomie played tough all night, and especially with us missing some free throws in the fourth quarter, it was too close.”

When it mattered, Frigon saw his team show signs of maturity in the final minute. Spring Hill forced Osawatomie into committing two turnovers after the Trojans missed a pair of 3-pointers, and Ashley Miller made one free throw and Rhi Lloyd two free throws in the final 24 seconds as the Broncos hung on for a 52-44 victory.

“We did a fairly good job down the stretch,” Frigon said. “It was good for a young girls’ team.”

Simpson’s jumper gave the Broncos an 11-point lead, but their free-throw shooting didn’t allow them to put the game away earlier. Spring Hill missed its first seven foul shots in the fourth quarter before Simpson made one with 40 seconds remaining.

Simpson led the Broncos with 14 points. Alli Cutting added nine points.

The double-digit lead Spring Hill proved to be just enough, as the Broncos were able to squeak out the win.

Two stretches of play in the game allowed Spring Hill to build at least a three-possession lead.

After Osawatomie kept Spring Hill’s offense from getting any dribble penetration in the first one and a half quarters, the Broncos started to push the tempo in the second quarter. That sparked Spring Hill’s defense, which jumped the passing lane to pick off passes intended for Osawatomie’s post players. Spring Hill forced Osawatomie into committing 27 turnovers. Miller’s energy was a big reason why.

“She’s kind of everywhere,” Frigon said. “It’s fun to be able to coach girls like that. She’s got a good motor to her.”

Spring Hill built a 31-24 halftime lead, but Osawatomie got the score back to 35-33 midway through the third quarter. The Broncos’ offense got them going late in the quarter. Stacey Czerdeza recorded a short putback, all while being fouled. She made the foul shot to complete the 3-point play, and a 44-35 Broncos lead after three.

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