1A GIRLS: Higbee, Pahranagat Valley rule Lund in Class 1A region

Pahranagat Valley senior Mary Higbee didn’t need much motivation to beat Lund for the Class 1A Southern Region championship Saturday.

After all, barely two weeks ago, Higbee got in foul trouble and was a nonfactor in the Panthers’ 54-43 loss at Lund.

This time she scored eight of her game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter, lifting Pahranagat Valley to a 48-37 victory in the tournament final at Desert Oasis.

Both teams have earned berths at the Class 1A state tournament, which begins Friday.

“(This victory) felt good,” Higbee said. “This whole season, we’ve been struggling and we were finally able to play for what we’ve been working for.”

Panthers coach Amy Huntsman was relieved to have Higbee on the court the whole way.

“When we went up to Lund, they were very effective at taking Mary out of the game,” Huntsman said. “She was in foul trouble early and she wasn’t able to get in her game.

“(Today) it was nice to have her on the floor and have that leadership. When (Higbee) starts attacking and going to the basket, good things happen for us.”

That was never more vital than after Lund (19-3) went on a 9-2 run in the third quarter to pull within 35-32 after trailing by 10 at halftime.

“I got a little nervous,” Higbee said. “But I knew that if we just kicked up the intensity it would be OK.”

Huntsman said, “We were playing it safe. It’s important to play to win, not to not lose.”

Halie Lewis scored 11 points for Pahranagat Valley (20-9), which bolted to a 13-2 lead and never relinquished it.

Keisha Stewart finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead Lund.

“(Pahranagat Valley) held their composure longer than we did,” Mustangs coach Shane Boren said.