麻豆社区

A million things were running through Megan Lanigan's mind as she approached the foul line last night.

With just two seconds left, her team was trailing the host F.H. Collins Warriors by two points in the varsity women's championship game.

The Porter Creek Rams guard proceeded to seal a 61-60 victory with two straight free throws.

The 18-year-old guard was subsequently named tournament MVP.

Lanigan called the free throws the most important shots of her life.

"Honestly, there was like a million things going through my mind,鈥� Lanigan told the Star post-game. "First one was we have to calm down and push the crowd aside, and just take those shots to get the basket. I really didn't want to let my team or my coach down.

"After I sunk the first one, I was like 鈥榃e deserve to be here. We've played so hard for this game. Let's just end it now.' It was pretty crazy.鈥�

Lanigan finished with 15 points, including the Rams' last four of the contest.

Porter Creek overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win the championship.

Rams coach Kasia Leary said it was the team's pressure defence that allowed them to seal the win.

"It was stressful,鈥� she admitted of the final minutes. "But they played as a team. I've never seen them step up the way they did. It takes a lot to pull out of that hole, once you're starting to feel mentally down.鈥�

Leary said having Lanigan at the line in the dying moments was a "hilarious, ironic situation.鈥�

"She's the girl who constantly says 鈥業'm not a shooter. I can't shoot,'鈥� Leary said. "So that made me a little nervous because I didn't want her to not believe in herself. She put them both in and voila.鈥�

Star Porter Creek guard Daria Jordan fouled out late in the fourth quarter after piling up 22 points.

Jordan welled up with emotion as she stepped off the court.

"It was the first game I fouled out of this season,鈥� the 16-year-old said. "I was pretty disappointed. It was the game that meant the most.鈥�

The Grade 11 student was thankful Lanigan stepped up to seal the victory.

"I'm really proud of my team and what we've accomplished this season,鈥� Jordan said.

The Warriors were hoping to add one last banner to the gym wall, but it was not to be. The girls lineup had only six players, as three had taken an early March Break holiday.

"I think we just got tired,鈥� forward Sam Burgis admitted post-game. "It's hard to play with one sub.鈥�

"It's very sad, but there's always next year,鈥� added Quynh Nguyen.

Nguyen finished with 22 points for the Warriors in the loss, while Burgis chipped in 16.

Tournament all-stars included Porter Creek's Jordan, F.H. Collins' Nguyen and Jay Kelly, and Vanier's Colleen Prenoslo and Sadie Pater.