WORDEN – The clock hasn’t struck midnight yet on the Cinderella Rams.
Taylor Hardiman scored 13 points, including the game-winning basket with under one minute to play in overtime, as Red Lodge upset Roundup 39-38 in the District 4B girls basketball championship Saturday night. It’s the first district title in the Rams’ program history.
Roundup led most of the night, including 35-33 with 30 seconds to play in regulation. But Portia Cortner rebounded a Hardiman miss and scored to tie the game at 35 and force OT.
Cortner fouled out just 15 seconds into the extra frame, but Red Lodge’s stifling defense held the Panthers to just three points in the extra session, including a final 10-second scramble underneath the Rams’ basket that ended with Hardiman gaining possession as the final buzzer sounded.
Zoe Cortner added 11 points for the Rams, who won the district title as the No. 4 seed after finishing 4-6 in the regular season. Faith Nichole led Roundup with 12.
The win gives Red Lodge a berth in the Southern B Divisional. Roundup and Columbus will meet in a challenge game Monday to determine the 4B’s second seed.
