Richland senior hits late free throw to beat L.D. Bell

By Travis Detherage

Special to the Star-Telegram

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS -- Friday will be one night that Richland senior Ciara Costello will always remember as the Rebels edged Hurst L.D. Bell 41-40 in District 6-5A action during senior night at the Richland gymnasium.

With nine seconds left and the score tied 40-40, Costello was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. She missed the first attempt but kept her composure and nailed the second foul shot to give the Lady Rebels their sixth victory in the last eight games.

"She's always been the one to step up," Richland coach Kate Goldberg said. "She's very confident and she's a huge leader. She was telling the girls that 'we're not losing this game, we're not losing this game,' even when we're down. She's a huge source for motivation and she's the glue that keeps everybody together."

Costello finished the game with eight points.

The Lady Blue Raiders (24-6, 8-4) dug themselves a hole in the first half as they had too many missed shots and too many turnovers to get anything going offensively. The Blue Raiders scored just five points in the second quarter and went into halftime down 20-13.

The Rebels (20-11, 10-5) led 34-25 entering the fourth quarter, but the Blue Raiders went on a 10-0 run, taking a 35-34 lead on Cierra Johnson's layup with 3:57 left.

The teams would have three more lead changes in the waning seconds before the Blue Raiders tied the score at 40-all and send Costello line.

Johnson finished with 17 points, her eighth consecutive game in double figures.

"We've played this team four times this year and all of those games have been close and scrappy," Goldberg said.

It was the first win for the Rebels against L.D. Bell this season. The Blue Raiders won the first three matchups by an average of 11 points.

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