AUGUSTA — Cindy Schultz has had a number of memorable moments at the Augusta Civic Center. She added another highlight to her reel Monday morning.
Schultz scored on a baseline runner with less than 10 seconds left to give Valley a 54-53 win over Greater Portland Christian in a Western Class D girls’ basketball quarterfinal at the Augusta Civic Center.
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“She’s pretty high percentage with her shots, so we all felt pretty good about her taking that shot,” said Valley junior forward Hali McQuilkin, who finished with 11 points and 21 rebounds.
No. 3 Valley (12-6) advances to play No. 2 Rangeley in the regional quarterfinals Thursday. No. 6 Greater Portland Christian ended the season at 13-5.
Schultz tied a Western Class D tournament record for 3-pointers in a game with five. She also hit five 3s in a game during the 2009 tournament, and Valley graduate Kristen Baker did it twice as well. Schultz holds the record for 3-pointers in a tournament with 13.
She got going early, scoring 15 points in the first half, but her late-game herorics allowed Valley to advance.
Greater Portland Christian rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take 49-46 lead with 1:56 left. The teams traded the lead, and the Lions led 53-52 on pair of foul shots by Liz Garland (22 points).
Valley missed a shot but was awarded possession on a jump ball under their own hoop. McQuilkin missed a shot underneath, but Schultz was able to gather the rebound off the floor, split a pair of defenders and hit a shot while falling down with about five seconds left.
“I knew there were less than 10 seconds left so I had to shoot and I hoped they’d foul me,” Schultz said. “They didn’t foul me, but it went in.”
Greater Portland Christian got a great look at the other end, but Elaine Beech’s shot fell short and Shannon Rich grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Valley.
“You hope that that is what they are going to be able to do, is to be poised at the end, we have great senior leadership,” said Valley Coach Gordon Hartwell, who earned his 200th victory. “I was a little concerned when we lost (senior guard) Jocelyn (Laweryson) and how that would emotional affect us in the scope of everything else that was going on. But I was real proud of how they did step up and how they did handle it.”
Laweryson, who missed significant time this season with a torn ACL in her right knee, reinjured the knee in the fourth quarter. Hartwell said her status for Thursday’s semifinal is uncertain.
Valley was in control early, taking a 16-5 lead after the first quarter behind nine points by Schultz. The Cavaliers led by nine at the half and stretched their lead to 11 in the third quarter.
That’s when Suzanne Gonzalez got going for Greater Portland Christian. Gonzalez scored 10 points in the third quarter and five in the fourth. She finished with 18.
The Lions tied it with 2:23 left on a bucket by Garland, who then gave them the lead with a three-point play with 1:56 left. Gonzalez fouled out 18 seconds later, and the teams traded baskets until Schultz hit the winner.
“A lot of these girls are seniors, so they are mentally prepared for this,” Schultz said. “We pulled through.”
Scott Martin — 621-5618
smartin@centralmaine.com
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