Saturday's 5A girls state basketball championship game between Davis and Mountain View had everything a meeting between two unbeaten teams should, including a photo finish.
The second-ranked Bruins watched a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate to one in the final seconds, but a missed free throw and a short halfcourt desperation shot at the buzzer by the Darts gave Mountain View a thrilling 51-50 victory.With the win, Mountain View set a new state record by laying claim to its sixth girls basketball championship and fourth in the last six years.
"What a way for two 23-0 teams to finish out," said Mountain View coach Dave Houle. "I wish we could give the state title to both teams."
Winning the title put to rest a perfect 24-0 season, a season the Bruins had dedicated to teammate Larie Stewart who has been unable to play most of the season due to kidney failure. The senior is awaiting a transplant following graduation.
"I don't think we could have won if she weren't a part of us," said Bruin Lori Henry. "I know that one of my main motivations was her."
Whatever motivated Henry throughout the season was there again against Davis. The senior forward pounded home a game-high 19 points, including seven in a critical third-quarter run.
Holding a 26-22 advantage early in the third, Mountain View went on a 12-0 run that was capped by Becky Morris' 3-pointer. Defensively, the Bruins made a slight adjustment at halftime that gave the
Darts problems. During the run Davis went seven straight possessions without getting a shot off and 12 straight possessions without scoring.
"We changed the defense a little bit to give a different look and to confuse them," Houle said.
Mountain View eventually built the lead to 40-26 with 7:30 left to play and still led 51-41 after a spinning, five-foot jump shot in the lane by Laurie Crocker with just under two minutes remaining. That's when the Darts made their last ditch effort.
Megan Jensen, who finished the night with 16 points, hit a 3-pointer and, after a Bruin turnover, Jill Adams putback a missed Jensen shot to cut the lead to 51-47 with 33 seconds to play.
Wendy Dale then made a steal on the in-bounds play and got the ball to Adams for a layin and a 51-49 deficit. Jensen then stole a lob pass with 13 seconds left and after a timeout, Dart Amy Fonnesbeck was fouled while setting a screen with 3.6 seconds remaining. Fonnesbeck hit the first free throw, but the second one rimmed out and the ball went out-of-bounds to Mountain View.
A long pass by the Bruins was intercepted by Dale, but as her long heave came up short the Mountain View players rushed to the floor and the celebrating began.
"That was something we have worked on all year, creating turnovers out of our press," said Creer. "To come back and get that close in that situation...these kids have nothing to be ashamed of."
For Athelia Graham, the Bruin victory was "sweet revenge." The Mountain View soccer team she was a part of this year lost to Davis in the championship game.
Crocker finished with 11 points for the Bruins, while Dale had a team-high 17 points and Adams added 12 for Davis.
Third-Place game
Fremont 45, Clearfield 44: The Silver Wolves broke open a tie game at halftime with a 9-0 run and then hung on in the final minutes to defeat the Falcons for the third time this year. Nikki Vaughn's layin with 1:20 left to play proved to be the game-winner for Fremont (21-3). Kallee Kearl had 16 points to lead the Silver Wolves, while Heather Johnson's 17 points topped Clearfield (15-9).
Fifth-Place game
Skyline 67, American Fork 42: The Eagles jumped out early and were never threatened in taking care of the Cavemen. Karen Butler and Kelly Duckworth teamed for 31 points for Skyline (20-5), which led 35-16 at halftime. Shari Kelsch and Aimee Armstrong each had eight points for American Fork (18-7).