WORCESTER — In a rock-fight to beat all rock fights on Wednesday inside the Brissette Gymnasium, South Hadley’s super sophomore gave her team a chance to win a title.
Kate Phillips, who had spent most of the final minutes on the bench with four fouls, put back a miss with :28.5 left and then added three free throws as the second-seeded Tigers (22-2) outlasted No. 3 Millis 45-42 to advance to the Div. 4 state finals.
“We pulled victory from the jaws of defeat,” South Hadley coach Paul Dubuc said. “Kate is such a great offensive rebounder and has a great heart. We’re lucky that we’ve got her for two more years.”
The crazy finish capped a second half that saw neither team lead by more than four points. Millis senior guard Lindsey Grattan almost singlehandedly willed the Mohawks back as she scored eight of her team high 16 points in the fourth despite also having foul trouble. Her back-to-back baskets to begin the fourth gave Millis its first lead since early in the first quarter and was part of a personal 8-2 run that gave the Mohawks a 39-35 lead with 4:00 left.
Phillips hit a pair of free throws with 3:10 left but had to go to the bench moments later when she picked up her fourth personal. Senior Ava Asselin stepped up with a clutch three that tied the game at 40 with 2:25 left.
After trading turnovers, Millis’ Ella Maher picked a fine time for her first bucket of the game as she hit inside with :48.1 left. She missed the ensuing free throw and on the next down court, Phillips collected a miss and was fouled as she put it back in. Her free throw gave South Hadley a one-point lead with :20 left.
Millis got a great look at a winning three but Maher’s shot from the top of the key was off the back iron. Phillips for the board and was fouled with three ticks left. Her two free throws made it a three-point game before Millis’ last-ditch heave was no good.
“Our depth and experience really paid off,” Dubuc said. “At this point, it’s just win or go home and we feel lucky that we did that.”
South Hadley led 13-10 after one and by as much as 10 in the second quarter before the Mohawks closed the half on a 7-0 spurt to make it 24-21 at the break. The seesaw affair continued in the third quarter as Millis fought back to tie it at 27 before South Hadley eventually carried a 33-31 lead to the fourth.