It’s no secret who the go-to scorer is for Bowling Green, and Greenwood did everything possible to keep Whitaker Buchanan shut down all night.

When the freshman finally got one good look, she capitalized.

Buchanan’s golden goal 28 seconds into overtime gave Bowling Green the 1-0 victory over Greenwood in the District 14 tournament championship game Thursday night at Warren East High School.

Buchanan took a throw-in and worked the ball left toward the middle of the field before striking a left-footed shot from about 30 yards out, placing the ball just out of reach of Greenwood goalkeeper Elizabeth DeMarse.

“I looked up, saw an open goal and took a shot,” said Buchanan, who was named the district tournament MVP. “I knew it was a nice strike. I didn’t think it would go in, but it did, which is really exciting.”

Bowling Green coach Lisa Correa knew it was in as soon as the ball sailed.

“It was a beautiful shot,” Correa said. “She got a lot of attention tonight and got away one time well enough to get that great shot off and I’m really happy for her.”

On top of securing Bowling Green’s seventh district title in the last eight years and winning the MVP honor, Buchanan’s game-winner tied the school record for most goals scored in a season at 31. As a freshman, Buchanan has scored that many goals in 10 less games than previous record holder Erin Jones had as a sophomore in 2013.

“She’s a dangerous striker,” Correa said. “The whole team is looking for her when they get the chance, and sometimes too much. Sometimes she’s got two or three people on her and you have to recognize when she has two or three people on her, take it yourself. We talked about that a little bit and she still got it with two people on her. She got away and got her shot off. She’s just a great player.”

Bowling Green (11-3-1) remains the only team in the state to have beaten Greenwood (18-2-1), which hopes the third time is the charm as it starts a defense of a region title it snagged from Bowling Green last year.

Greenwood held a 3-1 shot advantage in a sluggish first half before the intensity picked up in the second.

Both teams had shots that either missed inches outside the post or were near point-blank attempts in the second half. Bowling Green appeared to have finally broken through with a goal in the 65th minute, but it was negated with an offsides call.

The Lady Gators finished with an 8-6 edge in shots on goal, but Buchanan’s one good look 28 seconds into overtime proved all that mattered.

“I think we had done a really nice job containing Whitaker the whole game,” Greenwood coach Zach Salchli said. “I’m not sure how many shots she had, but that was her only good look at goal and she finished it. She’s a terrific player. She got loose and that was the end of it.”

Bowling Green will either draw a bye in the first round or play Glasgow or Logan County, the runners-up of the 15th and 13th district tournaments, respectively. Greenwood will play either Barren County or Todd County Central in the opening round.

“It’s a rivalry game and those games are always just played differently, and the emotions are high on both ends,” Salchli said. “Unfortunately, the ball didn’t bounce our way this time, but I’m looking forward to working to get that third meeting next week.”

2017 District 14 All-Tournament Team

Theresa Bohnlein, South Warren

Peyton Ferry, South Warren

Eriona Shabani, Warren Central

Beatrice Malenga, Warren Central

Haley Elrod, Warren East

Haley Eller, Warren East

Ellie Belcher, Greenwood

Anna Haddock, Greenwood

Rachel Heltsley, Greenwood

Bailey Cross, Bowling Green

Emma Wilgruber, Bowling Green

Madison Carby, Bowling Green

MVP – Whitaker Buchanan, Bowling Green{&end}