Sunset Girls: Bishop Gorman loses late lead, wins in overtime

Caira Young said she didn’t panic when Tuesday’s game went to overtime. It would have been tough to blame her if she did.

Bishop Gorman’s girls basketball team led by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, but Cimarron-Memorial tied it with 1.2 seconds left to force overtime.

Young had a pair of buckets in the extra period and helped her Gaels win 75-73 on the road in the quarterfinals of the Sunset Region playoffs.

“Nervous wouldn’t be the word I would use, because I know my team was prepared to execute,” Young said. “It was more of an adrenaline rush.”

Gorman (12-16) took advantage of Cimarron’s sloppy play in the first quarter to the tune of a 19-12 lead. Cimarron fought back in the second to take a brief lead with two minutes left in the first half, but the Gaels rebounded to control the third quarter and lead 56-42 seconds into the fourth quarter.

But the Spartans (21-8) wouldn’t go away, as Elise Young scored nine of her 17 points in the fourth quarter to help Cimarron chip away. The Spartans pulled to within five points with a minute left, then let their standout player take over.

Tasia Moore had a monster game for Cimarron with 22 points and 16 rebounds. She also tied the game late, drawing a foul from beyond the arc with her team down three points. She made all three free throws to force overtime.

“We just let them back in at the end,” Gorman coach Kevin Nixon said. “We didn’t finish strong so I felt like we could still win without a doubt. We just want the ‘W’ so we can move onto the next round.”

Young finished with a team-high 18 points. Georgia Ohiaeri had 16 points for the Gaels, Olivia Smith had 15 and Bentleigh Hoskins scored 11.

Amoura Whitney scored 13 for the Spartans and Chynna Torrence added 12.

The Gaels advance to the semifinals Thursday at Legacy, where they will play Spring Valley (27-2).

Desert Oasis 63, Arbor View 43 — At Desert Oasis, Kalena Halunajan had 16 points, and Melissa Simmons scored 13 as the Diamondbacks advanced past the Aggies.

Desi-Rae Young supplied 11 points, and Dajaah Lightfoot grabbed 14 rebounds for Desert Oasis (21-4), which led 29-21 at halftime.

The Diamondbacks will play Centennial (25-3) in the semifinals.

Alaysia Reed led Arbor View (14-12) with 15 points.

Spring Valley 74, Legacy 45 — At Spring Valley, Essence Booker poured in a game-high 24 points to power the Grizzlies past the Longhorns.

Kayla Harris supplied 13 points for Spring Valley, which got 10 from Garrisen Freeman.

Taeha Pankey led Legacy (10-17) with 21 points.

Centennial 80, Clark 18 — At Centennial, Eboni Walker and Justice Ethridge each scored 13 pionts to lead the Bulldogs over the Chargers.

Daejah Phillips added 12 points, and Melanie Isbell scored 10 for Centennial, which hit 10 3-pionters.

Haley Daniels had six points for Clark (15-12).