To manage to overcome some internal obstacle, impasse, or inhibition preventing one from succeeding or progressing.

Or, more simply, getting over the hump.

The Caston Lady Comets finally did on Tuesday night when senior Bailey Harness secured a turnover and converted a fastbreak lay-in that proved to be the game winner on the road at #11 Clinton Central, 47-46.

With a strong post presence in 5’10” Sara Parkison and surprisingly strong 3-point shooting in the first half, the host Bulldogs built a double digit lead.

It was something fans of the third-ranked (1A) Caston Lady Comets had to have wondered. Would Caston get over the four to eight point deficit they faced most of the second half?  

But in the closing two minutes of the contest the Comets pressure defense turned over Clinton Central several times and prevented post feeds close to the basket.  Five of Clinton Central’s 14 turnovers were in the final period.

Caston remains undefeated, 16-0.

A Caston 6-0 run at the end of the second quarter cut the deficit to eight at halftime, 26-18.  But as the game got deeper into the third and then fourth quarter, Caston often got as close as four points only to see Clinton Central answer to grow the lead back to eight on several occasions.

Caston head coach Josh Douglass knew it would be a grind against a quality opponent in Clinton Central (12-3).  The task became tougher when the Bulldogs connected on 4-for-9 3-point shooting. 

Caston pulled to within 37-31 going into the fourth quarter but not because they found an answer for Parkison on the low block.  Parkison scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the third period.

Macee Hinderlider with a key basket that cut Clinton Central's lead to 46-45 with :33 remaining.

But in the fourth, Caston limited Parkison’s touches and doubled the post when she had the ball.  The Clinton Central leading scorer, 15.5 ppg, only scored on a 1-for-2 appearance at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Bailey Harness secured the final score of the night on a contested fast break lay-in.

Harness finished with eight points.

Douglass said he knew Harness would come through.

Clinton Central failed on two consecutive inbounds plays as they threw the ball away trying to get a final shot. 

The Comets rally was slowed by struggles at the line.  Caston was 14-for-24 (58.3%) at the free throw line including 10-for-17 in the fourth quarter and a missed front end of a one-and-bonus.

Coach Douglass knows this kind of grind-it-out win is perfect preparation for the upcoming state tournament.

Addison Zimpleman led Caston in scoring with 13.  Isabel Scales scored 12. 

Zimpleman, Scales and Harness each pulled down five rebounds.

Kinzie Mollenkopf added eight points and four rebounds.  Macee Hinderlider added six in the Caston win.