3A GIRLS: Boulder City girls sweat out win over Virgin Valley in 3A Southern League title game

Boulder City girls basketball coach Brian Lemmel’s face was nearly as blue as his dress shirt on Saturday night.

That’s what happens when you spend several agonizing moments watching your opponent shoot free throws that could end your team’s title hopes.

But after Karlee Koopman rebounded Ellie Biasi’s missed free throw and was fouled with 1.2 seconds left, Lemmel finally could let out a breath as his Eagles held on for a 44-43 win over Virgin Valley in the Class 3A Southern League title game at Desert Oasis.

“It was on the kids’ shoulders,” Lemmel said. “And both teams had kids that stepped up and played hard, played well all game long.
“It was a battle of two of the best teams in the state. It was a great fight.”

Both teams advance to the 3A state tournament, which begins on Friday at Desert Oasis.

Virgin Valley tied the score at 41 on a 3-pointer by Stacy Avalos with 1:09 to play.

Boulder City star Caiti Forrester, who had struggled with her outside shooting all night, knocked down her only 3-pointer of the game with 47 seconds to go to give the Eagles a 44-41 lead.

“That shows the poise that Caiti has,” Lemmel said. “She’s willing to struggle and continue to do the things that have made her successful and will make her successful for the team.”

Virgin Valley called timeout with 11.8 seconds to go, and Boulder City’s Rachel Moody fouled Lisa Henderson on a 3-point attempt with 5.7 seconds left.

“Mistakes happen,” Lemmel said. “That mistake, fortunately, did not cost us this basketball game. It was something that happens in the heat of the moment.”

Henderson hit the first two free throws but missed the third. The scramble for the rebound resulted in a held ball, giving the ball back to Virgin Valley.

The Bulldogs got the ball inside to Biasi, who was fouled by Forrester with 2.9 seconds.

But Biasi missed both shots, and the Eagles held on.

Forrester finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Moody added 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Koopman, a freshman, had 12 points and nine boards. Koopman had eight points and seven rebounds in the second half.

“Karlee Koopman has played solid all season long,” Lemmel said. “She has been more than I could have hoped for. She works very hard and gets very little recognition.”

Shelby Brotherson came off the bench to score 12 points to lead Virgin Valley. Biasi added 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Rachel Morris had 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots.