HOLMES TOWNSHIP (Crawford County Now) — Nail-biting finishes are nothing new between these two county rivals. So it should come as no surprise that Colonel Crawford needed an overtime period to edge Wynford 39-36 in a girls Northern 10 Athletic Conference basketball opener here Tuesday night.

The Lady Eagles (3-0, 1-0) used a strong inside presence and the one-two combination of Robin Ehmann and Emmi Powers to get the victory and remain undefeated.

“Ehmann and Powers are probably the best 4-5 team that I’ve seen in a really long time. To go off the triple, to hit the three, to post up, make moves. Clearly, that’s their strength and we didn’t do a good job of taking that away,” Wynford head coach Amy Taylor-Sheldon said.

Ehmann, a junior, led Crawford with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Powers contributed 10 points, 8 boards, two steals and an assist.

Wynford (2-1, 0-1) was missing post player Brooke Frombaugh, who is out with a knee injury.

“They did a great job, and everybody crashed the boards for them. Brooke was the Player of the Year in the league last year and it will take some time for people to be comfortable in the shift,” Taylor-Sheldon said.

“But kids can step up and make some plays and be able to grow.”

Wynford took an 11-9 lead after one quarter. Caroline Sheldon hit a pair of 3s and Maradath Engler added one.

Sheldon finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Engler added 9 points and 5 rebounds.

The Lady Eagles took an 18-15 lead at halftime after Powers drove for a basket.

Colonel Crawford outrebounded Wynford, 44-32.

“It’s a good win on the road against a league team that’s very experienced and well-coached. It’s good to come in here and get tested,” head coach Zac Bauer said.

Caroline Sheldon scored 7 of her team’s points in the third quarter that Wynford won 12-9. But the Lady Royals were cold in the fourth quarter, managing just two field goals.

“We were faced with adversity early in the game, early in the second half and late in the fourth quarter. Give our kids a lot of credit,” Bauer said.

“They had the next-play mentality and that’s what you have to have in a game like this.”

Bauer credited Ehmann and Powers with their progress.

“It’s been really cool to see Robin’s development. When we took over she was in the eighth grade and I told her you have a chance to be a really special player for us — if you put the time in. She has really responded to that.

“She has worked on her skills in the off-season and in the weight room. She has a relentless mentality with her conditioning, so she’s ready for moments like tonight,” he said.

Powers fired off a 20-footer that missed to end regulation sending the two teams to overtime knotted at 32-32. Prior to that Caroline Sheldon hit a runner to tie the game with 7.1 seconds left.

“Emmi is such a dynamic player and is fearless. She just loves the game. The moment’s not too big for her. She took that shot at the end of the quarter. It’s the sign of a special talent and she’s only a sophomore,” Bauer said.

In the overtime Ehmann scored a basket while Lexi Duré and Lila Plesac added four free throws.

Several new players, namely juniors Lily Alberty and Claire Smith, contributed to the victory.

“Lily gets a touch in the short corner in the third quarter that leads to a missed shot and a rebound, then a lay-up at the other end. That’s something that doesn’t show up in the stat book, but it’s impactful,” Bauer said.

“Claire makes a nice rotation on the defensive end, makes a cross-court pass, fills the lane and gets back to hit a 3. For just being three games into their varsity careers, those are high-level IQ players.”

Reese Redman didn’t play but has also made an impact as a freshman.

“She cares so much about the program and wants the best for her team,” Bauer said.

Wynford hosts New London Thursday before traveling to Seneca East on Saturday. Colonel Crawford hosts Mohawk Saturday.

“We also need to find a better way to balance. And defensively we have to gut it out more. We lost at the foul line and rebounding,” Taylor-Sheldon said.

“We also fouled two players who are very good free throw shooters. It’s an arch-rivalry. Zac does an incredible job at Crawford and we’re good friends. His girls are always going to come out and play hard. You have to match them per hustle play and we had a few lapses there.”

Colonel Crawford won the junior varsity game, 29-17.

Kinley Hoepf had 10 points, Lilly Kerce and Josie Smith added 6 each. Megan Young scored six for the Lady Royals.

Box scores

Colonel Crawford       9          9         9          5         7 — 39

Wynford                      11         4       12          5         4 — 36

Colonel Crawford (3-0, 1-0 N10): Shots 13-43; 3-pt. shots 1-11 (Claire Smith); Free throws 12-23; Rebounds 44 (Robin Ehmann 12); Turnovers 14. Scoring: Saylor Holt 1 2 4, Lila Plesac 0 2 2, Emmi Powers 4 2 10, Claire Smith 1 0 3, Robin Ehmann 6 3 15, Lexi Dure 1 3 5.

Wynford (2-1, 0-1 N10): Shots 13-52; 3-pt. shots 6-30 (Caroline Sheldon 3, Maradath Engler 2, Ally Liming); Free throws 4-7; Rebounds 32 (Caroline Sheldon 5, Maradath Engler 5); Turnovers 6. Scoring: Caroline Sheldon 6 3 18, Maradath Engler 3 1 9, Ally Liming 1 0 3, Paige Sheldon 1 0 2, Jenna Filliater 2 0 4.

JV: Colonel Crawford 29-17.