1A GIRLS: Rally lifts Pahranagat Valley

Pahranagat Valley’s defense was fantastic Friday.

The Panthers forced 33 turnovers and allowed only 40 points to Owyhee in a Class 1A girls basketball state semifinal at the Orleans Arena.

And it almost wasn’t enough.

Fortunately for Pahranagat Valley, the team found just enough offense in the nick of time.

Mary Higbee hit two free throws with 11.5 seconds left to break a 40-all tie, and the Panthers used a 7-2 run in the final minute to defeat Owyhee, 44-40.

“We realized if we wanted to win, we had to step it up,” Higbee said.

Pahranagat Valley (21-9) will meet Lund (20-3) in the state final at noon Saturday.

“I kept thinking something had to fall,” said Pahranagat Valley coach Amy Huntsman, whose team made just 18 of 65 shots (27.7 percent). “Then I started wondering if anything would fall. I don’t want to know what our percentage was.”

Pahranagat Valley trailed 38-33 with less than six minutes to play but pulled within 38-37 when Higbee drained two free throws with 4:07 left.

Then neither team scored until Higbee, a senior, made a beautiful pass to freshman Halie Lewis for a layup with 59 seconds remaining.

“That’s the nice thing about having a senior guard on the floor,” Huntsman said. “She really did make good choices at the end of the game.”

After a Pahranagat Valley free throw, the Braves tied the score on a basket by Tina Gallardo with 23 seconds left.

Gallardo, thinking her team still was trailing, fouled Higbee, who made the free throws.

Owyhee (13-6) nearly had as many turnovers (33) as field-goal attempts (38) as it tried to solve Pahranagat Valley’s press.

“We’ve been working on the press all year,” Higbee said. “We know where we need to be.”

Higbee led all scorers with 14 points. Dakota Day grabbed 13 rebounds for the Panthers.

Gallardo had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Braves.

Lund 46, Virginia City 43 — Lund started the game on a 12-0 run and eventually built a 27-11 lead but had to hold off a late charge by the Muckers.

Virginia City (27-6) began the game with seven missed shots and nine turnovers and didn’t help itself by making just 12 of 30 free throws.

“Our half-court man defense worked really well,” Lund coach Shane Boren said.

Yet the Muckers crept back to within 44-43 on Sophie Glogovac’s three-point play with 39 seconds left.

Two free throws by Lund’s Keisha Stewart finished the scoring.

“The team that had the most heart won,” said Stewart, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. “We’ve been working so hard for this.”

Lyndsey Ivins scored 10 points for Lund.

Gigi Glogovac led Virginia City with 15 points. Sophie Glogovac added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Muckers.