FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Makenna Douthitt’s 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play capped a late Frankfort comeback and gave the Falcons an impressive 60-59 win at regional rival Fairmont Senior.
Trailing 59-57, Douthitt lined up the decisive shot from the right side wing and capped a team-best 25-point performance. The Polar Bears were unable to get a shot attempt to answer as time expired.
“We knew to put the ball in her hands at that time,” said Frankfort head coach Michael Miller. “She led us the whole game. Big time shot from a big time player. She doesn’t get rattled. I am so proud of her.”
Frankfort (7-1) avenged a loss to the Polar Bears (5-2) in the state semifinals last year.
Neither team led by more than eight points. Fairmont took their biggest lead of the game with 3:30 to go at 53-45. The Falcons immediately responded with a 9-0 run in just ninety seconds to take a 54-53 lead.
“We were getting a little bit out of sorts. We were trying to do too much guarding one player. We knew there were four others on the court.”
Fairmont Senior’s Marley Washenitz connected on three free throws over the next two possessions, giving the Polar Bears a 56-54 lead before Douthitt’s late heroics. Washenitz led all scorers with 35 points. Rebekah Jenkins added 16 points for Fairmont.
Maria Perdew scored 14 points for the Falcons while Halley Smith chipped in with 10.
Three of the state’s top teams reside in Class AA, Region 1 with Frankfort, Fairmont Senior and North Marion. The Huskies have defeated both the Falcons and the Polar Bears in the opening month of the season.
“Words can’t describe how we feel right now,” Miler said. “We’re excited. We weren’t a hundred percent tonight but they battled. That’s what these girls do. They never give up. We got some good looks at the end and we executed.”