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A last second three-point attempt by the Thunder Mountain High School’s Michaela Demmert was blocked by Klawock’s Cassi Williams and the Falcons girl’s basketball come back fell just an inch short to the Chieftains 44-41 on Monday night .
“We were hoping for the best in an open look at the basket,” TMHS coach Tanya Nizich said. “You always want to do something early on in the game so you don’t have to come down to a last second play. We were trying to get either Jonelle (Staveland) or Michaela open on the wings but both were covered.”
Demmert’s shot was a valiant effort to tie the game after the junior forward had collected nine rebounds in the contest and played steady defense inside.
The Falcons trailed 36-29 starting the fourth quarter and went on a 9-4 run to close within two, 40-38, with 49 seconds remaining.
Jonelle Staveland keyed the run with five points and Ava Tomkins two
Ashley Young hit a free throw with 43 seconds remaining to bring the Falcons within one point and Staveland rebounded a missed Klawock shot and scored on the possession to give the Falcons a 41-40 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
A Klawock basket by Williams gave the lead back to Klawock and a turnover forced the Falcons to foul.
The Chieftains Tonya Busse hit two free throws for the final three-point advantage.
Thunder Mountain led 11-9 starting the second quarter when Klawock went on a 19-point tear.
Staveland hit two deep three pointers and Tompkins four baskets in a row to keep the Falcons within three at the break, 28-25.
The third quarter was again unkind to the Falcons as they only found four points.
Staveland led Thunder Mountain with 12 points, Tompkins and Young 10 apiece, Sarah Morris six and Eyerus Tingley three. The Falcons were 6-10 at the charity stripe, Klawock went 9-14. Busse led the Chieftains with 17 points, Williams added 14, Sierra Giebel eight, Jill Carl four and Ashley Tomkinson one.
“I felt if we would have that third and fourth quarter drive and energy from the start of the game we probably would not have been in that tight situation,” Nizich said. “It was a tough game and both teams played great coming down to the end.”
The Falcons (2-6 overall, 0-2 conference) play at JDHS Friday and Saturday.
