2A GIRLS: Reserve shines in Needles’ victory

Chrystian Dick returned just in time for the Needles (Calif.) girls basketball team.

The reserve junior forward, who missed last week’s Class 2A Southern League tournament with an ankle injury, scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half Friday to help the Mustangs to a 45-30 win over Pershing County in the state semifinals at Sierra Vista High School.

“She’s been a big part of our offense all year long,” Needles coach Manuel Calderon said.

The defending state champion Mustangs (29-3) will meet Lincoln County in the championship game at 3:20 p.m. today at the Orleans Arena. It is a rematch of the Southern League title game that Lincoln County won, 52-48.

Dick’s performance was huge for Needles, which saw starting forward Kristin Arthur ejected with Pershing County’s Kendra Mitchell with 1:44 left in the first half.

Arthur had eight points in the first quarter, and Needles led 18-10 when the two got tangled up after a missed shot. Each player was assessed a flagrant technical foul, and Arthur will miss today’s game as a result.

“It’s a big blow to us,” Calderon said. “She’s a big part of our offense and a big part of our defense.

“Unfortunately, both players got caught up in the heat of the moment. We’ll miss her, but we have to play through it.”

Needles led 30-10 midway through the third quarter before Pershing County (20-7) closed the quarter on a 15-4 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Kayla Brinkerhoff (nine points).

Needles regained control early in the fourth. Gena Chavira blocked a shot — one of 10 blocks for Needles — and went coast to coast for a 36-25 lead. Dick then converted a three-point play with 2:27 left to put Needles up 41-27.

“We’re really long defensively, and we’ve got pretty good foot speed,” Calderon said. “It’s been a battle with Lincoln all season. We’ve been wanting a rematch, and we’ve got it.”

Lincoln County 50, Incline 33 — Marissa Smerek scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lynx.

Lincoln County (26-3) held the Highlanders scoreless for a 6½-minute stretch in the second half.

Kori Gloeckner scored 15 points and Melanie Florence 10 for the Lynx.

Incline (13-12), which trailed 26-18 early in the second half, came back to tie the score at 29-all with 1:15 left in the third quarter. But that’s when Lincoln County’s defense took over, holding the Highlanders without a field goal for more than eight minutes.