(South Pasadena) – After getting out-played Friday night against San Marino, a better effort was clearly on the mind of La Canada head coach Tamar Hill heading into a battle for first place against Rio Hondo League leader South Pasadena.
With ice running through her veins, sophomore Courtney Chen drained two crucial free-throws to put the Spartans up 44-42 with 6.4 seconds. La Canada needed to sweat out two free-throws by Lexie Scholtz before escaping with a 44-43 victory over the Tigers.
Early in the fourth quarter the Spartans raced out to a 38-31 lead as Mary Peck and Sydney Zarate each hit jumpers to help extend a lead that was cut to three points after Kelsey Nakamura hit step-back three-pointer.
South Pasadena battled back as Nakamura single-handedly hit two jumpers, cutting the La Canada lead to two points at 42-40.
With 21.8 seconds remaining, Nakamura was fouled and set to the line for two free-throws. She calmly knocked both charity shots down to tie the game and setting up the fantastic finish.
Chen drove down the lane and was hacked on her way to the basket, resulting in her two free throws. Chen finished the evening with 16 points, but none were larger than the two at the end of the game.
The Tigers drew up a play for Nakamura with six seconds left out of a time out and she drove the lane only to come up short on her shot, but Scholtz was there to put the shot back but was fouled as she went up for the tying basket.
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