2A GIRLS: Needles’ big rally foiled by last second 3-pointer
Needles’ girls basketball team appeared to have completed a memorable rally to reach the Class 2A state title game.
Seconds later, the Mustangs’ season was over.
Alex Hall drained a 3-pointer from the right wing at the final buzzer to give White Pine a dramatic 41-40 victory over Needles in a 2A state semifinal Friday at Durango.
Hall’s heroics came after Needles’ Gena Chavira grabbed a steal and fed a wide-open Holly Laswell for a transition layup that give the Mustangs a 40-38 lead with less than 10 seconds left.
But after a quick inbounds pass, the Bobcats found Hall open on the wing for the decisive shot, and the senior forward hit nothing but net.
“It’s tough. Our girls were emotional after the game,” Needles coach Manuel Calderon said. “We wanted to get a little more pressure on their shot outside, but (Hall) got a tremendous look at the basket. Big-time players make big-time shots, and she got the job done.”
White Pine (20-9), the North’s No. 2 seed, advanced to meet Northern top-seed Pershing County (25-2) in the 2A state title game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Orleans Arena.
Hall finished with 20 points, including all nine of White Pine’s points in the fourth quarter. Her heroics foiled Needles’ comeback from a 26-12 deficit early in the third quarter.
Chavira made 2 of 3 free throws to give Needles a 37-34 lead with 1:54 remaining, but the Mustangs (25-4) couldn’t hold on.
Needles hurt itself by shooting 17-for-38 from the free-throw line.
“We knew we had to push back, and we just told them to stay aggressive,” Calderon said of the second half. “We came out, did just that and got some key stops and rebounds.
“We would have liked to down more free throws, but unfortunately we didn’t.”
Chavira, a senior forward, scored 28 points in her final high school game.
“Gena’s accomplishments are second to none as far as Needles High School,” Calderon said. “Her leadership has been outstanding. She’s done a tremendous job and proved her leadership qualities throughout the season.”
Pershing County 59, Lincoln County 37 — Sarita Jo Condie scored nine of her 16 points in the first quarter as the Mustangs built an 18-6 lead on their way to an easy win over the Lynx.
Grace Moreira added 15 points for Pershing County, and teammate Alex Graham supplied 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
Pershing County will play for its first state title Saturday. The Mustangs lost 52-49 to Battle Mountain in last year’s title game.
“It’s big to win, but we haven’t done anything yet,” Pershing County coach Steve Cerini said. “That’s the way to look at it. You’ve got to put two good games together, and we’ve got to do the same thing (Saturday). This is a step in the right direction, that’s all this was.”
Sarah Brinkerhoff had 10 points and four steals for the Mustangs, who held Lincoln County (16-11) to 14-for-48 shooting.
“We had a lot of intensity on our defense,” Condie said. “That’s what we go on. We feed off our defensive energy and turn that into points.”
Senior post Melanie Florence led the Lynx with 27 points, nine rebounds and two steals.
