GREELEY, Colo.—Jerrica Mallard made two layups in the game’s final 20 seconds as top-seeded McClave avoided an upset with a 42-39 win over Stratton in the 1A girls state semifinals Friday night.
Karlee Stuart added 12 points for McClave, which advanced to the state title game for the sixth time in the past eight years. The Cardinals (25-1) will face Kim for the championship Saturday night.
Morgan Fox nearly single-handedly led Stratton to the upset, scoring 22 points, but the Eagles (20-6) faltered down the stretch.
With her team leading 39-38, Fox missed the front end of a one-and-one with 34.2 seconds remaining, and Mallard drove the lane for the go-ahead layup with 21 seconds to go.
Mallard then stole the ball from Regina Martel and scored on a breakaway to put McClave up by three with 7 seconds left.
Stratton had a final chance to tie the game, but Jordan May threw the ball over Martel’s head and out of bounds, allowing McClave to run out the clock.
Mallard finished with 19 points, while Karlee Stuart added 12 points for McClave.
McClave led comfortably 29-16 midway through the third quarter before Stratton rallied. The Eagles outscored the Cardinals 21-6 over the next eight minutes and took their first lead of the game on a layup by Fox with 4:03 to play.
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