he Davis County girls basketball team authored one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent memory on Friday, January 30th, rallying from a 27-3 halftime deficit to defeat Albia 54-51 in overtime on the road. The victory extended the Mustangs’ winning streak to eight games and positioned them in a first-place tie atop the South Central Conference standings.
A Lopsided First Half
The game began as a nightmare for Davis County. Albia jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the first quarter and completely dominated the second period. Davis County didn’t score a single point in the second quarter until a three-pointer from Morgan Schultz made it 23-3 with 2:34 remaining before halftime. The quarter ended with Albia holding a commanding 27-3 advantage, and the Mustangs appeared to be headed for a blowout loss.
The Third Quarter Comeback Begins
Davis County came out with renewed energy in the third quarter, cutting the Albia lead to 37-23 by the end of the period. The Mustangs were finding their rhythm offensively while tightening up defensively, setting the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter.
A Thrilling Fourth Quarter Rally
With 2:50 remaining in regulation, Davis County had trimmed the deficit to nine points at 45-36 following free throws from Albia. What followed was a furious rally fueled by clutch plays and Albia’s struggles at the free-throw line.
Hayden Humphrey grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it 45-38 with 2:36 left. After Halle Husted secured a defensive rebound following two missed Albia shots, Humphrey scored again off a Husted assist with 2:00 remaining to cut the lead to 45-40.
Culee Smith came up with a crucial steal on the next possession, finishing a fast-break layup while drawing a foul. She converted the free throw at the 1:33 mark to cut the deficit to 45-43, a momentum-shifting moment in the game.
Albia then struggled at the free-throw line. The Lady Dees missed two shots from the charity stripe on a shooting foul with 1:12 remaining, keeping Davis County within striking distance. After another foul with 1:05 left, Albia made just one of two free throws to go up 46-43, then missed two more free throws following a rebounding foul with 58.2 seconds on the clock.
After a Davis County timeout with 35 seconds remaining following an offensive rebound by Payley Poe, the Mustangs continued to battle. With 33.2 seconds left and trailing 46-45, Albia called timeout with 14.4 remaining. Smith fouled with 12.3 seconds on the clock. Albia’s Hood missed the first free throw but made the second to make it 47-45.
Lawson missed a mid-range jumper, but Humphrey grabbed the offensive rebound and converted the left-handed layup with just 2.1 seconds remaining to tie the game at 47-47 and send it to overtime.
Overtime Drama
Davis County seized momentum in the extra period. Husted drilled a three-pointer to give the Mustangs their first lead of the game at 50-47 with 3:40 remaining in overtime. Albia answered with a layup to cut it to 50-49.
Albia reclaimed the lead at 51-50 with 1:06 left, but Husted came through in the clutch again, making both free throws with 44.2 seconds remaining to put Davis County back ahead 52-51.
After a jump ball gave possession back to Davis County, the Mustangs turned it over with an out-of-bounds violation. Albia missed a shot but fouled Paylin Lawson, who made both free throws to extend the Davis County lead to 54-51 with 8.8 seconds remaining.
Albia had one final chance, but their three-point attempt to tie the game hit the front rim with two seconds left, and the putback layup attempt also failed. Davis County had completed the improbable comeback, winning 54-51 after trailing by 24 points at halftime.
Individual Performances
Halle Husted led Davis County with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks, including the crucial overtime three-pointer and late free throws. Hayden Humphrey came off the bench and added 11 points and seven rebounds, with her late offensive rebounds proving pivotal. Paylin Lawson contributed 10 points and four rebounds, while Culee Smith posted six points, nine rebounds, four assists, and a game-high five steals.
Payley Poe grabbed seven rebounds, added two points, three steals, and one block. Nadia Zmolek chipped in two points, two rebounds, and one block. Morgan Schultz scored three points with four rebounds, including the crucial second-quarter three-pointer that finally got Davis County on the scoreboard. Mayson Utt added three points and three rebounds. Ella Day and Olivia Robinson also saw action in the victory.
By the Numbers
Davis County shot 30.4% from the field (17-of-56), 25% from three-point range (7-of-28), and an impressive 92.9% from the free-throw line (13-of-14). The Mustangs secured 41 rebounds, distributed nine assists, recorded 11 steals and four blocks, while committing 14 fouls and 16 turnovers. Critically, the Mustangs committed just five turnovers in the second half, a dramatic improvement from their first-half struggles.
Season Implications
The victory was significant on multiple levels. Davis County avenged their earlier season loss to Albia, 42-39 on December 19th, 2025. The Mustangs improved to 14-3 overall and 10-2 in conference play, tying them with Chariton atop the South Central Conference standings. The eight-game winning streak represents Davis County’s best record since they went 15-7 in the 2013-14 season.
The win also ended a five-game losing streak against Albia dating back to December 19th, 2023, marking Davis County’s first victory over the Lady Dees in over two years.
Albia falls to 9-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play with the devastating loss.
Coach’s Comments
Davis County Girls Basketball Head Coach Matt Zeitler explained his halftime approach that sparked the historic turnaround. “At halftime I went in and told them to outscore them by 25 points, no matter how they got it. We needed to get a little rough with them. We had to get at least 10 offensive rebounds in the second half—we couldn’t go with no offensive rebounds again. That couldn’t happen,” Zeitler said. “I didn’t mention much about the first half, just tried to seek the opportunity presented and capitalize on it.”
The coach explained that his team adjusted its approach after halftime, increasing the pace and taking Albia out of its comfort zone. “In the second half, we really played our style of basketball. We picked up the tempo, forced them to speed up with us, and were able to disrupt their rhythm,” Zeitler said.
Zeitler credited his five seniors, who have played together since they were young, for their leadership and composure in the face of adversity. “Five seniors out there—that’s a big deal. They’ve played together forever since they were five years old. The kids do it, not the coaching,” he said.
He emphasized the mental toughness his team displayed when many others would have folded. “Some teams would’ve gone out there in the second half and lost by 40. These kids didn’t want that. They don’t get rattled. Senior leadership matters so much to a team,” Zeitler explained.
Championship Showdown Looming
Davis County now faces one of their biggest games of the year on Tuesday, February 3rd, when they host Chariton in a first-place showdown. The winner will likely claim the South Central Conference championship, setting up a must-see battle between the conference’s top two teams.
Photography courtesy of Josh Husted.
Edited to add more information.
