It was a time during the season where everything seemed to be going against the Troy Christian girls’ basketball team. They headed to Darke County last week to battle the winless Franklin Monroe Jets dealing with a lot of adversity.

Not only did two of the players leave the school for personal reasons, one of their top post players was dealing with a concussion and not able to play, and their top senior leader Meredith Haddad was still trying to get 100% from her injury.

But somehow, the Eagles got it done.

Trailing with three minutes left in the game, Troy Christian outscored FM 7-0 down the stretch, mostly at the free throw line, to defeat the Jets 41-36 for an important non-league victory.

“They were a really scrappy team,” Troy Christian coach Dick Steineman said of the Jets. “Early in the season they really struggled, but they are getting better. We stepped up tonight, and some of the young kids stepped up and came through for us.”

The first quarter was a sluggish one with only six points scored. Things heated up in the second, as the Eagles jumped in front 8-2 when Hailey Peters hit an early free throw, and Haddad buried a three. Just that quickly, their offense went silent and the Jets stormed back. Six consecutive points tied the game at eight, and the host Jets took a 13-9 lead before the Eagles could score another field goal. They went three minutes without a field goal, but when Haddad hit two free throws, they tied the game at 12 with 1:46 left in the half.

The Jets appeared to destined to take the lead into the half, but Lauren Lavy scored and connected on the additional free throw, giving the Eagles a 16-15 lead at the half.

Franklin Monroe scored the first six points of the third quarter before Lavy ended the run with a layup. Peters later tied the game at 24 then gave Troy Christian a 28-27 lead on a short jumper with 1:20 left in the third.

Both teams battled in the fourth, and when Hannah Eley connected on a layup with 2:53 left in the game, the Jets led 36-34. From there it was all Eagles, and it was all at the free throw line.

Haddad hit three free throws in the final two minutes, while Lavy added two and Peters connected on two with 17 seconds left to give Troy Christian a five point lead, and the victory.

Lavy led the Eagles with 14 points and seven rebounds, Peters added 11 and nine rebounds, while Haddad scored eight points with three assists.

“The kids are getting used to everyone out there, but it was great to see us hit the free throws down the stretch.”