With the
game slipping away, Turkey Valley turned things around at just the right time.
The
second-ranked Trojans scored the game's final eight points and edged previously
unbeaten Janesville 60-58 to advance to the Class 1A semifinals for the second
straight year.
Star
guard Shelby Reicks drove for the go-ahead basket
with 30 seconds remaining and teammate Elli Winter made a big defensive play in
the waning seconds to help Turkey Valley complete its comeback from a
nine-point deficit.
Reicks finished
with 21 points to lead the Trojans, who lost to Springville in last year's
championship game. Morgen Kuennen added 13 points for
the Trojans, Sadie Nymeyer scored 12 and Winter
finished with 10 to go with four steals.
Janesville's
Tori Hazard scored on a variety of drives to the basket and in piling up 34
points on 14-for-24 shooting. But the ninth-ranked Wildcats couldn't get the
ball to her at the end for the one additional basket they needed.
Turkey
Valley trailed 48-39 early in the fourth quarter and was down 58-52 with under
90 seconds to play. Winter started the final rally by scoring on a putback, Kayla Gebel followed with another bucket off an
offensive rebound -- her only basket of the game -- and Kuennen
sank a free throw to cut the lead to 58-57.
After
Janesville missed a free throw, Reicks drove down the
lane for the go-ahead basket. The Wildcats then tried to get the ball inside to
Hazard, but Winter tipped it away, Reicks grabbed it
and was fouled. She made a free with throw with 3.5 seconds remaining, then
hustled for the rebound after she missed the second shot and held the ball
until the buzzer sounded.
Turkey
Valley moves into a semifinal game at 11:45 a.m. Thursday with a 22-2 record.
Janesville, making its second trip to state, finishes 24-1.