One full year of bitter heartbreak dissolved into championship hysteria with one game-winning shot by Pine View Saturday night. And in fitting fashion, it was senior Cori Benson with the Panthers' brightest smile at the buzzer.
The Pine View guard nailed a redemption-filled jump shot with only :01 left for an electric 48-46 win over darkhorse Union, giving the Panthers their second 3A title in three years."When it came down to clutch time, we set up a play for Cori to go to the baseline," Pine View coach Gary Higgins said. "This time they gave her the shot. It couldn't have happened to a better kid."
Last time for Benson and the Panthers was one season ago, when Hurricane's defense clogged her final shot in the title game. Once again, the opposition predicted an identical play.
"We tried to deny her that pass and we didn't pick her up quick enough off the screen," said Union coach Mike Ross. "When she can hit that shot with time going down against the pressure, it's just something else."
The dramatic finish overturned a Union comeback that was only one second short of cardiac arrest. Down 42-35 with 2:45 on the clock, the Cougars roared back on an 8-1 scoring run, as Pine View hit only 1-of-5 from the foul line.
Union forward Rebecca Riser powered in a weaving layup with 11 seconds left to tie the score at 42. On the night, Riser fired up the SUU Centrum with 26 points and 13 rebounds to fuel the Cougars' Cinderella dream.
"For some reason the girls don't want to let up," Ross said after his team's thrilling second-place finish in state. "It seems like we always give ourselves a chance."
Union dominated the first half with a 25-18 lead after holding the Panthers to 5-21 shooting. Pine View was also outrebounded 20-14 in the first half by the scrappy Cougars.
"You've got to give Union credit, they were all over," Higgins said. "They came out ready to play and just took it to us."
Kristen Hinton came off the bench for Pine View to lead the team with 13 points while Union went after starting guards Benson and Brittany Esplin.
Despite scoring only eight points on only 2-for-17 field goal shooting, Benson made the most of her fourth-consecutive state title appearance when it mattered most.
"Right when it snapped through the net I knew the feeling," she said. "It happened when it needed to but it was a real team effort tonight."
"My heart goes out to Union," Higgins said of the Cougars who made the 3A tourney an thrilling underdog show. "I know the feeling from last year and it's something I didn't get over until now. They proved they should really be here."
In remaining tournament action:
Third-place game
Dixie 44, Delta 28
Jana Coombs led the Flyers with 10 points followed by Jennifer Lillywhite with nine as Dixie clinched the tourney's third-place spot. Dixie held the Rabbits to only seven field goals in the game.
Fifth-place game
Wasatch 63, Uintah 59
Christy Shepherd ignited the Wasps' offense with 28 points as Wasatch took a fifth-place finish. Melissa Busch led the Utes with 14 points. Jenny Murray added 13 for Uintah.