Paxton holds on for 60-55 win over Bethlehem

PAXTON — If it seemed like Paxton senior Stevie Davidson had the ball in her hands during each and every Bobcats possession in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s Class 1A regional quarterfinal, it’s because she did.
    And Paxton coach Herb Haddock wouldn’t have had it any other way.
    Davidson scored 13 of her 16 points in the final eight minutes — including connecting on 10-of-12 from the free throw line — to help Paxton hold on to a 60-55 win over Bethlehem.
    “She’s our only senior, that’s why she had the ball,” Haddock said. “It wasn’t by accident.”
    The win pushed the Bobcats (20-6) into the regional semifinals and allows Paxton’s lone senior at least one more night to shine.
    “It’s amazing that we’re still going,” Davidson said. “I know with the ball in my hands I can help us, but if they’re open I will pass them the ball. It’s a team game.”
    Junior center Erin Walker scored a gamed-high 21 points while Krysten Cuchens added 12 more points as the Bobcats finished with a trio of scorers in double figures. They would need every last point. Having jumped out to a comfortable 29-19 lead at halftime thanks in large part to the inside play by Walker, who scored 18 of her 21 in the first two quarters, Bethlehem (18-9) cut the Bobcats lead down to as little as four (38-34) early in the fourth.

That was when Haddock — and the Bobcats — put the ball, and their fate, in the hands of Davidson. Following a 3-pointer by Bethlehem’s Megan McDonald that cut the Paxton lead back to four at 48-44, it was Davidson who drew the quick foul and responded by connecting on both ends of a 1-and-1 at the free throw line. Two more Davidson free throws would later push the Bobcats’ lead to 52-44 with just 1:50 remaining. Then, after McDonald cut the lead back to five with just 20 seconds remaining on an offensive putback following a missed free throw, it was Davidson again walking to the line.
    After missing the first, Davidson drained the second attempt with 18 seconds left to give Paxton a 59-53 lead and assure the Bobcats season of another day.