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Morristown East held on to its share of first place in the Big East Conference (District 1-4A) with a hard-earned 60-58 overtime triumph over Dobyns-Bennett Wednesday night at Isenberg-Siler Gym.

Freshman Kennady Phillips scored the game-winning bucket with three seconds left to provide the Lady Hurricanes with their fifth conference win against one loss, tied with West Ridge.

In fact, it was Phillips and fellow freshman Molli Stuffle who scored all eight points in overtime as the Lady ‘Canes improved to 19-5 overall.

Phillips finished with 25 and Stuffle added 15, including a pair of threes in the extra session. Hannah Hall added 11 for the cold-shooting Lady Hurricanes.

The Lady Indians, who fell to 3-3 in the league and 14-9 overall, were led by Sally McReynolds who hit a three to force the overtime period as the visitors rallied from as many as 10 down late in the third quarter.

Reese Haselton added 12 on four three-pointers while Afton Baker and Carlee Cradic chipped in 10 apiece.

East made only 17 of 49 from the floor for 34.7 percent. The Lady ‘Canes were 8 of 20 on three-point attempts and gunned in 18 of 23 free throws.

The Lady Indians shot 44 percent by making 22 of 50 and also hit 8 of 20 from behind the arc. DB had a 35-32 rebounding edge as McReynolds grabbed 11. Phillips and Hall had nine each for East.

Dobyns-Bennett trailed 42-36 at the end of three but chipped away at the lead and took a 47-46 lead on two free throws by Baker with 2:25 left. Stuffle hit a free throw to tie the game and Hall converted an old-fashioned three-point play to put East on top 50-47 with 1:12 on the clock.

Stuffle hit two more free throws for a five-point lead but Baker made a layup with 22 seconds left in regulation. On the inbounds attempt, Stuffle was knocked down and McReynolds wound up with the loose ball and gunned in a three to knot the game.

McReynolds drove for a layup to start the overtime before Stuffle drained a three. However, Cradic and McReynolds both scored inside to put the Lady Indians on top by three with 1:08 on the clock.

Stuffle hit a three with 43.8 showing to tie it again and then came up with a loose ball to set up the winning basket. Stuffle got the ball up the floor and put it in the hands of Phillips who took it to the basket and put it in.

East coach Justin Combs said, “I’m happy with the way my girls found a way to win in overtime. Molli hit two huge threes to keep us in the game, and then we got a big defensive stop.

“I thought we did a really good job on defense on that possession when we had struggled being consistent on defense all night. Kennady then made a great play offensively to go and get the winning basket.”

He added, “Offensively, we missed a lot of shots around the rim that we normally make and seemed to be cold from the perimeter, but I thought when we really needed big buckets, our kids found a way to make them.

“Jaelyn (Valentine) made two huge threes and Molli, KP and Hannah were all in double figures. Hannah and KP were strong on the boards for us as usual and Riley (Forester) and Kara (Hotel) gave us good minutes.”

Combs said, “Give DB credit. They came in here and gave us all we could handle and then some. I’m proud of our kids for finding a way to come out on top.

“There’s no such thing as a bad win, especially in our district and we’re happy with the victory for sure.”

East led 17-13 after the first quarter and scored the last four points of the half to lead 28-24 at intermission.

The Lady Hurricanes had two six-point runs in the third period and pushed their advantage to 42-32 with 1:50 left in the third.

Kingsport scored the last four of the third and first five of the fourth to pull within a point and eventually took its first lead of the game on Baker’s free throws.

Earlier in the season, the Lady ‘Canes rolled to a 16-point win at DB and Lady Indians coach Bill Francis commented, “I liked the fact we kept ourselves in the game. Up at our place, we got behind and couldn’t catch up. But tonight, our kids did a better job.

“We outscored them by five field goals but they went to the line 25 times and we went six. I thought both teams played pretty aggressive defense. But that’s what it’s like on the road. You just have to overcome it and tonight we didn’t.”