Tarkanian Girls: Dre’una Edwards powers Liberty to tournament title

Dre’una Edwards decided to save the best for last Saturday.

Playing in the Diamond bracket of the Tarkanian Classic — the top division — Edwards and her Liberty girls basketball team needed overtime to stake their claim as the division’s best.

So when Liberty hit a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation to send it to the extra period, the show was just beginning.

It was there where Edwards earned the tournament’s MVP award. The senior forward scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in overtime to lead the Patriots to a 62-54 victory over Valor Christian (Colorado) in the title game at Durango.

“I knew I had to step it up for my teammates and get the win,” Edwards said. “I love stuff like this. I love working hard and being able to accomplish my goals.”

It took awhile for Edwards to get going Saturday.

She was absent in the first half, collecting no points and two rebounds, but exploded in the second half and overtime. Once halftime ended with the Patriots leading 21-17, Edwards scored seven points but watched Liberty cough up the lead.

Valor Christian appeared to put the game away, when with 5.2 seconds remaining, Abby Wright drained a go-ahead 3-pointer in the corner to put the Eagles up 44-41. Liberty called a timeout, and gave Edwards the ball for the inbounds play.

“Coach drew up the play and all we had to do was execute it,” Edwards said. “We knew what we had to do.”

Edwards dished to London Pavlica, who found Tennessee-bound senior Rae Burrell who took care of the rest. Burrell answered Wright’s 3-pointer with one of her own, and the Patriots forced overtime.

Burrell won the opening tip in overtime and fed Edwards, who put in a layup to begin the extra session. She outscored Valor Christian on her own in overtime, and no other Liberty player scored more than two points.

Edwards also had 10 rebounds and two assists.

Desert Oasis 62, Carondelet (Calif.) 57 — At Durango, Desi-Rae Young led a balanced attack for the Diamondbacks with 13 points in their victory over the Cougars.

Sierra Mich’l and Eliyjah Pricebrooks each added 12 points for the Diamondbacks, and Kalena Halunajan scored 11.

Alex Brown and Emily Howie each scored 11 to lead the Cougars.

Democracy Prep 45, Durango 44 — At Liberty, Sharmayne Finley scored 31 points to power the Blue Knights over the Trailblazers.

Monica Marshall scored 10 points for Democracy Prep, which won despite shooting 5-for-12 from the line. Durango shot 8-for-19.

Analiyah Matthews scored 20 points for the Trailblazers.

Coronado 59, Juneau-Douglas (Alaska) 45 — At Liberty, Jade Thomas scored a team-high 20 points as the Cougars bested the Crimson Bears.

Aeryn Hawkins had 14 points, and Haley Tyrell scored 12 for the Cougars.

Caitlin Pusich led all scorers with 21 points for the Crimson Bears, who were 7 of 7 from the foul line. Teammate Cassis Dznick added 14 points.

Western 25, Calexico (Calif.) 23 — At Liberty, Adrianna Jones scored 12 points as the Warriors topped the Bulldogs.

Western led 13-10 at halftime, then held off the Bulldogs in the second half.

Lyah Macias scored 11 points for Calexico.

Southwest DeKalb (Ga.) 52, Bishop Gorman 36 — At Durango, Caira Young scored 11 points in the Gaels’ loss to the Panthers.

Gianna Gourley scored 10 for the Gaels, who were outscored 23-22 in the second half.

Jayla Kimbrough led the Panthers with 12 points.

Springfield (Ore.) 49, Foothill 40 — At Liberty, Cielo Gonzalez poured in 23 points to lead the Millers over the Falcons.

Bri Rosales led the Falcons with 13 points.

Foothill was 8 of 10 from the free-throw line.