JAY – Jane Hebert knew the who, when, where and how. She just didn’t know what might happen.

The Dirigo junior guard knew she was getting the ball Tuesday night. She knew she’d have the shot from the top of the key to either win the game or tie it. She just didn’t know whether the shot would go or not – that was, until she shot it.

“I knew it was money,” said Hebert. “I could tell.”

Hebert’s 3-pointer in the final seconds of overtime lifted the Cougars to a stunning 39-38 victory over Jay in a battle of two of Western’s C’s top teams.

“This is awesome,” said Hebert, who led the Cougars with 13 points. “We talked about it before. We were third, and they were ahead of us by like 10 (Heal Points). We knew if they won this game, they’d be too far ahead of us. We knew if they won this game, they’d be untouchable for the No. 1 spot. We said, ‘We have to come out and win this game.'”

Jay (10-3) had been up 36-31 with five quick points early in overtime, but the Cougars battled back and tied the game with a free throw by Katrina Pulk with 30 seconds left. Jay got free throws by Liz LeBlanc on two separate trips to the line in the final minute to take a 38-36 lead. When LeBlanc missed the second of two, Dirigo got the rebound and pushed the ball down the floor with 20 seconds left.

“I didn’t want to call a timeout because I wanted us to bring the ball down,” said Dirigo coach Reggie Weston. “I thought we’d have an advantage if they’re trying to cover. It worked out pretty good.”

Jay set up in a zone, trying to seal off any penetration, which Dirigo had done well during the game. Instead, Dirigo had plans for a 3-pointer all along.

“I was supposed to set a screen, and Alyssa Wade was going to go over there,” said Hebert. “I was supposed to pop directly through. I messed it up. I went around, and that’s why I was so far out.”

Morgan Hutchins added 11 points for the Cougars (10-3) while Hannah Knight finished with 10. She had four key points in the overtime that helped Dirigo close the gap.

“They answered,” said Jay coach Chris Bessey. “We had a couple of bad turnovers there. Foul shooting has hurt us all year.”

The Tigers shot 10-for-28 from the foul line. Jay had chances to open the lead in regulation but missed five of its last six. In overtime, Jay hit just 3-of-6.

“It’s a confidence thing,” said Bessey. “That’s what foul shooting is. We have girls with good form, but they’re not going in. It’s mental.”

LeBlanc led the Tigers with 16, including 10 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Hillary Deane added eight.

Jay raced out to the quick lead in overtime when LeBlanc scored right off the tip. With 3:15 left, LeBlanc hit a free throw but missed the second. Beth Moore got the rebound and made it 36-31. That didn’t dissuade the Cougars.

“I had confidence in my team,” said Hebert. “I knew we could do it.”

Knight hit two free throws with 2:55 left, and then drilled a jumper from the top of the key with 53 seconds left.

“She’s one of our best shooters,” said Weston. “She’s one of our most consistent shooters. She works harder than most kids.”

Pulk’s free throw tied the game with 30 seconds left, but LeBlanc went to the foul line twice in the next 10 seconds and hit single free throws. When Dirigo got the rebound of a miss, the Cougars were ready for a final shot.

“We drew up the play, and they ran it,” said Weston. “She felt confident, and she knew what she was doing. Knowing that, I think it made her a lot more confident, knowing that she was going to get the ball. She just had to catch and shoot.”