jmetcalfe@delphosherald.com

COLUMBUS GROVE — When young teams are searching for a big win, as Jefferson and Columbus Grove are, a player (or players) has to come up with a big play.

That was Lady Wildcat junior Makayla Binkley, who swished a 35-footer at the horn to end the third period Thursday night.

That started the ’Cats on their way to a rally that ended up in a 39-35 Northwest Conference triumph over the Lady Bulldogs at Columbus Grove High School.

Both teams had struggled against the other’s defense to that point and it continued afterward.

Grove (1-4, 0-1 NWC) led 22-19 to start the second half and built the game’s biggest margin — 30-21 — on a 3-ball from the right wing by junior Rachel Schumacher at 3:17. That was shortly after she and senior Renee Karhoff collided trying to get possession of a loose ball; Karhoff would not return. With foul trouble beginning to rear its ugly head for the Bulldogs — junior Sammi Stechschulte (8 counters, 7 caroms) and shooters in senior Breanne Halker and sophomore Hope Schroeder in particular on a team not known for its depth this winter — that was all they needed. The also depth-challenged Wildcats, without junior Brooke Hesseling to start the game, began to come back by getting to the free-throw line. Though they struggled overall — 13-of-27 (48%) versus 4-of-10 for the hosts (40%) — it was a problem for the hosts. When Binkley, returning to action from injury herself, took an inbounds pass on the right sideline and swished in the well-beyond-NBA shot as time expired, the guests were within 30-27.