As the first quarter began both teams started off relatively slow. The Darts pressured the ball up-court and were able to find some easy baskets, taking a 9-8 to end the first quarter
In the second quarter it looked as though the Darts might run away with the game, scoring the first seven points of the quarter, and after Kasey Day connected on a 10-foot jumper the Darts held a 16-8 lead.
But Whitney Trimble was able to steal back the momentum for her team, something she did throughout the game. Trim-ble stole an errant Davis pass and was able to make a lay-up while being fouled. Trimble hit the free throw that followed and cut the Darts' lead to five. As the second quarter began to wind down the Darts continued to hold on to their slight advantage, dominating the offensive boards to create scoring opportunities, and shutting down the Falcons, who were settling for long three-pointers rather than penetrating into the Darts' defense. But as the second quarter ended, Trimble nailed a three-pointer with six seconds remaining and helped the Falcons cut the Darts lead to 20-16 heading into the half.
In the third quarter the Falcons were able to cut the Darts' lead to 22-21 after Trimble knocked down another three, but the Darts extended the lead before the Falcons could overcome the deficit entirely.
The Darts went on a 11-2 run, with balanced scoring and tenacious offensive rebounding. It appeared the third quarter would end with the Darts holding onto their double-digit lead, but once again the Falcons benefited from a long three-pointer in the final seconds of the quarter, this time from Haley Hall; the Darts' lead was 33-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Darts' Emily Richardson connected on two free throws on the Darts' first possession followed by a pretty turn-around jumper by Amy Dunford to help the Darts once again extend their lead into double-digits. But every time the Darts appeared ready to pull away the Falcons were able to connect from downtown to keep it close. The Falcons' Maegan Bingham was the first to connect midway through the fourth quarter, followed once again by Trimble, who had four three-pointers in the game, and by Hall. With three minutes remaining, after another basket from behind the arc by Bingham, the Falcons tied the game up 40-40, their first tie since early in the first quarter. Both teams had opportunities to end the game as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, but both defenses held firm and the fourth quarter ended with both teams knotted at 42. Overtime was needed to decide this key Region 1 battle.
In overtime, both teams were exhausted after battling it out for an entire game and neither team could score to grab the first lead, but finally, Trimble connected yet again from downtown with over two minutes remaining to put the Falcons ahead 45-42. Hall connected on a short jumper on the Falcons' next possession, and, after running over a minute off the clock, Hall coolly sank two free throws with 47 seconds remaining to put the Falcons ahead, 49-43. The game ended with the Falcons escaping with a hard fought 51-46 victory and the Darts left out of the 5A tournament picture.
Trimble led all scorers with 16 points, and Hall added 15 as well for the Falcons, who improved to 7-3 in region to take sole possession of second place. The Darts, who fell to 3-8 in region, had balanced scoring with Richardson, Day and Dunford all scoring in double-digits in the losing effort. The Darts will end the season Thursday at Weber, While the Falcons will face Weber on Tuesday, followed by their season finale at Viewmont Thurs-day night.
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