(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Niagara junior point guard Josie Rock (10) makes a move towards the lane as Florence freshman Kamdan Johnson (3) defends her in a non-conference girls basketball game Thursday night at Florence High School.

FLORENCE, Wis. — Niagara junior Morgan Borchardt’s bank shot in the lane with 10.8 seconds remaining in overtime turned out to be a game-winning basket, as the Lady Badgers defeated non-conference rival Florence 52-50 in overtime Thursday at Florence.

“The outcome of the play where we took the lead to win the game wasn’t designed exactly that way but it turned out to work in our benefit, obviously,” Niagara head coach Karl Lamoreaux said. “After getting a clear path to the basket, whomever of our girls ended up with one, they were to attack in hopes of drawing a foul to get to the free throw line, but Morgan (Borchardt) got the basket without getting fouled and made the shot.”

The contest went into overtime as Niagara attempted to protect a two-point lead late in the second half by stalling, with point guard Josie Rock dribbling around the top of the key, making passes to the wings. After running off nearly a minute off the clock, the Ladycats defense collapsed on Rock as she passed to Samantha Oratch, who missed a shot near the basket.

On Florence’s ensuing possession, Audrey Selden drained a three-pointer to give Florence a one-point lead with under a minute left in regulation. The waning moments of regulation were a see-saw affair, and with the score knotted at 44 Lamoreaux called a timeout with 7.4 seconds remaining.

Though the Badgers did get three shots off in the last 7.4 seconds, the game went to overtime.

In the early portion of the first half, it was the Badgers who got off to a rocky start. The contest was their first of the season, with their home opener Tuesday versus Laona-Wabeno postponed.

However, Florence didn’t get much rhythm in their half court offense in the first half, as they were rushing to get shots off. Niagara’s triangle-and-two defense gave Florence trouble in the early going.

Rock, who finished with a team- high 22 points — 18 in the second half and overtime — was pushing the tempo at times, in the first half as well as the first part of the second half, using her speed to get a handful of transition baskets.

Niagara led 20-13 at the intermission. The Badgers held their lead through the first seven minutes of the second half, thanks to Borchardt’s aggressive play, as well as Oratch, at 6-2, using her height and strength to her advantage to secure several rebounds on both ends of the court.

“Tonight was a competitive rivalry game. These girls on both teams know one another, and end up facing one another in every sport it seems like,” said Florence head coach Brad Perry.

Coming off the bench, Oratch ended up with 11 points for Niagara, while Borchardt chipped in nine.

At the 11:02 mark of the second half, Florence sophomore Isabella Millan canned a three-point basket to give the Ladycats a 29-26 lead — the first lead the team had since early in the first half. Millan led all scorers with 24 points for the Ladycats.

“We had some defensive breakdowns in that stretch, we needed to almost regroup to the changes they made. And they got the lead on us again,” Perry added.

At that point, the game swung back to Niagara’s favor as they went on a 10-1 scoring run in four game minutes to take a 36-30 lead. Each time Niagara took a lead in the game, Florence clawed their way back in.

“Our girls were jacked up for this game. Florence is our cross town rival and they knocked our girls out of the post season in volleyball. The girls wanted to win this game badly,” Lamoreaux stated. “Florence has a wonderful team, and they’re definitely up and coming. It’s unfortunate one team had to lose tonight, but I am proud of my team for pulling out the win.”

“We had a good look at the basket in the last 10 seconds of overtime, but we didn’t get a basket. But someone had to lose tonight, but a close game like this is valuable for the future,” Perry said.

The Badgers (1-0), will have their home and Marinette & Oconto Conference opener on Nov. 30 as they’ll host Oneida Nation. Florence (1-1) is off until Dec. 2 when they will travel to North Dickinson for a non-conference game.