Rancho, buzzer foil Sierra Vista girls

Rancho girls basketball coach Ashley Vossen had one plea as the final shot went up Friday night.

“Please don’t go in,” she said. “That was really it. Please don’t go in.”

With the Rams leading 46-45, the shot by Sierra Vista senior forward Danielle Morrow would have won the game as time expired. Unfortunately for Vossen, the shot did go in. Fortunately for her and the Rams, Morrow didn’t get it off in time.

The shot didn’t count, and Rancho held on for the home victory over the Mountain Lions.

Rancho (8-10) took the lead with five seconds left when junior guard Kyndal Ricks hit a free throw to break a 45-45 tie, the 14th and final lead change.

“I just knew I had to get in and make it for my team,” Ricks said. “I knew the situation, I knew the time on the clock, so I figured if I knock these down and play great defense, we could take out the win.”

On the ensuing play, Sierra Vista junior guard Iymoni Burrell drove down the court and missed her shot. Morrow rebounded, but when the buzzer sounded, the ball was still in her hand.

Ricks also hit a clutch free throw earlier, tying the score with 45 seconds left. After Sierra Vista (5-5) stepped out of bounds, Ricks went in for a final shot and was fouled, setting up the eventual game-winner and her team-leading 12th point.

“With her at the line, that’s who I’m most confident with,” Vossen said. “She is working her butt off, and she is our leader.”

The game did not start as well for the Rams. The Mountain Lions bolted to an 18-9 lead largely because of sophomore forward Shania Harper, who had 13 points and six rebounds in the quarter. She finished with game highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Rancho junior guards Lea Williams and Alesse Hall each scored 10 points, and senior center Sam Pochop had six points and 11 rebounds.

Burrell scored 14 to lead Sierra Vista, and senior guard Kayla Smith had eight rebounds and six assists.

Contact Justin Emerson at jemerson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2944. Follow @J15Emerson on Twitter.