HAPPY CAMP – Perhaps a bit rusty after their first-round bye, the second-seeded Happy Camp Lady Indians (14-5) barely survived a visit by the number-seven Westwood Lady Lumberjacks (12-12), 49-47.

The first quarter was a sloppy back and forth affair with four lead changes and three ties. At the end of one, Westwood led 11-9. The Lady Lumberjacks went into the locker room at halftime with a 22-19 advantage. In the third quarter, Westwood went up by as many as eight points, and held the lead 34-29 going into the final frame.

Lady Indian Savanah Britton nailed a 3-ball to open up the fourth quarter. Aja Conrad added a freebie, and Cassidy Hammon dialed long distance to tie the game at 36-36 with 5:25 remaining. A minute later, Westwood regained the lead 37-36, and Happy Camp Coach John Kufner called time out. That’s when the Happy Camp crowd took control.

Led by super fan David Arwood, the Indian faithful pounded out a deafening “Give me an “I”; give me an “N”; give me a “D”…”What’s that spell?” “INDIANS.”

Following the time out, Westwood added two more free throws to lead 39-36, but then the tide turned in the Indians favor. Kelsea McLeran stole the ball under the Westwood hoop and scored to make it 39-38. Aja Conrad scored two straight baskets, including one off a steal, and the Lady Indians had the lead 42-39.

The Lumberjacks responded with a pair of steals and tied the contest at 43-43, with 1:15 left to play. Then, there was maybe the biggest the shot of the game. Left open beyond the arc, Lady Indian Nikki Crocker drained a long-range 3-ball to put Happy Camp up 46-43, with 46 seconds remaining on the clock.

Asked what went through her mind when she hit the 3-pointer, Crocker said, “I thought we were going to win the game.”

Westwood added a pair for free throws to cut the lead to 46-45. But, Hammon was cool as ice at the line in the last seconds, hitting three-of-four freebies to make it 49-45.

The Lumberjacks added a bucket at the buzzer to make the final 49-47.

“There was a lot of pressure on the first free throw, and I knew they (the free throws) helped, but there was still time on the clock,” said an elated Hammon following the game.

Hammon led the Lady Indians with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals. Conrad also notched a double-double dominating under the basket with 22 boards and 14 points. Conrad also had 4 steals. Nikki Crocker added 9 points.

Westwood was led by Ellen Medici with 14, and Sonia Melendez with 10 points.

Happy Camp will host third-seeded Bishop Quinn (15-11) on Wednesday Feb. 27. Bishop Quinn beat sixth-seeded Maxwell 47-45 in round-two of the NSCIF D-VI playoffs.