JACKSON - Section 3AA basketball rivals Fairmont and Jackson County Central gave the crowd in Jackson on Monday a possible preview of the upcoming South Sub-Section playoffs.

Senior power forward Whitney Burmeister delivered a double-double performance behind a game-best 22 points to go with a team-high 13 rebounds to help the hometown Huskies squeeze by the visiting Cardinals, 56-55, in double overtime.

Sophomore center Kayla Lardy swooshed a low-post turnaround leaner with 11 seconds left in regulation to send Fairmont into the first overtime tied at 40.

Despite freshman guard Sierra Schultz sinking two clutch free throws to stake Fairmont to a 48-45 edge with only 8 seconds left in the first extra session, Whitney Burmeister drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force a second 4-minute overtime.

Burmeister's solo free throw with 21 seconds left in the fourth frame of the contest extended the hometown Huskies' lead to 56-53, but senior guard Megan Roloff buried two free throws only 5 seconds later to inch the Cardinals within one.

Emily Kim stole JCC's ensuing inbound pass, but Fairmont could not get a possible game-winning shot off before the final horn.

"I told the girls in the lockerroom that tonight's game was a playoff-type of atmosphere, and playing a down-to-the-wire game like that should help us in a close game later on in the playoffs," said Cardinal mentor Don Waletich. "I'm proud of the way the girls responded well after getting down by 12 (points) early in the game.

"I thought Megan Roloff really sparked us off the bench tonight."

All five JCC starters contributed points to a game-opening 12-0 run created by the Huskies' turnover-causing full-court press before Roloff came off the bench to help Fairmont counter with a 12-2 retaliatory surge.

Roloff, who finished with 13 points, worked a perfect give-and-go with Lardy before later diving into lane traffic to scoop up a loose basketball. Roloff flipped the ball to Kamara Cone for a one-handed runner to narrow the Cardinals' gap to 16-14.

Schultz later fed Shannon Christianson for a low-post basket before Christianson returned the favor on a baseline wraparound to Schultz for the tying 8-footer at 18-all with 2:27 left in the first half.

Roloff's hard-charging drive off Lardy's steal later extended Fairmont's lead to five before Burmeister's free throws whittled the deficit to two by intermission.

Roloff delivered seven of the Cardinals 17 second-half points, but Whitney Burmeister and Angela Handzus countered down the stretch to swing a 40-38 lead to the Huskies.

Burmeister's traditional 3-point play and ensuing steal-turned-layup, followed by Handzus' steal, layup and free throw built the two-point lead before Lardy hit the overtime-creating basket.

Lardy generated a double-double of 11 points to complement a game-high 15 rebounds for the Cardinals, Schultz produced 12 points, while Christianson pulled down 10 rebounds.

Fairmont (8-6, 3-2 South Central) plays host to Blue Earth Area at 6 p.m. Friday.

Jackson County Central (9-7, 3-3 Southwest) hosts Redwood Valley tonight.

Natalie Shimon generated 12 points and five rebounds to help Fairmont double up Jackson County Central, 50-25, during B-squad action Saturday in Jackson.

Emily Kim scored 12 points for the Cardinals, Madison Geerdes chipped in 10 points, while Pauli Anderson pocketed five steals.

Fairmont (10-1) travels to Blue Earth Area on Thursday.