ZEIGLER - Pope County's Brooklyn Vaughn hit 7-of-8 free throws in overtime, including the game-winners with 4.9 seconds left to allow the Lady Pirates to escape Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher with a 60-58 win in prep non-conference girls basketball action.

"It was too exciting," said Pope County coach Kelly King. "We probably shouldn't have won it, but we made our shots at the end."

After Lily Furlow tied the game for the Tornadoes with 10.7 seconds remaining by making 1-of-2 free throws. Vaughn grabbed the rebound and raced all the way down the floor and drew a foul from Furlow as she drove the lane.

"I was going to pass the ball, but missed Hilary (Powles) on the fast break," Vaughn said. "All I was thinking then was getting to the basket and making something happen."

Vaughn then stepped to the line and without batting an eye sank both shots to give Pope County the lead. The junior forward finished the game with a team-high 28, including hitting 11-of-12 free throws and thee 3-point baskets.

"I was very nervous," Vaughn said. "When I stepped up to the line I was thinking 'I had to get it done'.'

Lauren Mitchell then took the inbounds pass and got off a pull-up jumper to the left of the lane that bounced over the rim as the buzzer sounded.

"We played a very good team game," Z-R-C coach Art Brandon said. "We missed some free throws that could have won it for us, but I have nothing bad to say about our effort against a very good team."

Pope County (17-4) won the game at the line, hitting 16-of-20 free throws, including 8-of-10 in the two overtime periods.

Z-R-C (9-8) didn't have a great night at the free-throw line, hitting only 18-of-33 overall and 9-of-16 in the overtime. Mitchell scored a game-high 32 points, but missed what could have been the game-winning points when she missed two free throws with 4.7 seconds left in the first overtime after hitting 3-of-4 earlier in the extra frame.

In the second overtime the Tornado woes continued at the line whenKatie Matyi was fouled and missed both her free throw attempts with 1:30 left. On the second miss Kylee Palmer grabbed the rebound and fed Vaughn who drove the lane and put the Lady Pirates ahead on a lay up.

On the Tornadoes' next possession Vaught stole the ball from Mitchell and was fouled and sank both shots to give Pope County a four-point lead with 32 seconds remaining.

Furlow then put back a missed jumper by Sam Thomas and had a chance to cut the lead to one, but missed her free throw attempt after being fouled.

Z-R-C got a break when Mitchell was pushed down on the rebound and was fouled . She made her first free throw, but missed her second leaving the Tornadoes one-point down 58-57 with 11.8 left.

Furlow made what might have been the play of the game drawing a foul as she grabbed the rebound of Mitchell's missed free throw, but the junior center could only tie the game as she made her first attempt, but missed her second setting up Vaughn's heroics.