The Paper

CHOUTEAU — Chelsey Stricklen needed her biggest night of the season — 30 points, 14 rebounds — to enable Class 3A’s No. 2-ranked Adair to escape unranked Chouteau in overtime, 64-60.

Chouteau built a 10-point lead early in the second half, but the third period ended 41-41. In the third frame, Adair hustled for four times as many rebounds (11), put up three times as many shots (18) and was perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6).

But a game that was tied nine times with 12 lead changes went that way in the fourth period.

Adrienne Richards put Chouteau ahead 43-41, then Stricklen made a steal to give Adair a 49-47 lead with 4:05 remaining in the game.

Chouteau’s Catterina Browning tied the game at 53 with a putback at :55, and Cheyenne Helms tied it again at 55 with :11 left on a pair of free throws.

Adair missed two shots in the block in an attempt to tie and the game went into overtime.

Chouteau’s Richards chipped in a 5-footer along the baseline for a 59-57 lead, but Stricklen answered it and Chelsie Root put Adair ahead for keeps at 1:20 bucket in a crowd.

Helms tied the score with free throws at 1:09, Stricklen put Adair ahead again (61-59) with free throws at :57, and Chouteau’s hopes ended when a 3-point attempt got nothing but air at :47.

Tamara Harris joined Stricklen in double figures with 15 points.

Chouteau’s L.J. Hochstetler scored 20, Helms added 14, and Browning double-doubled with 12 points and 13 boards.

Fans had a feeling it was going to be an electric night when Jason Couch, a member of the Chouteau Wildcats, played the National Anthem on electric guitar to put a little purple haze in the fieldhouse.