Cheyenne girls steal win from Arbor View

Cheyenne girls basketball coach Neil Balint has stressed all season his team needs to continue to take little steps toward improvement.

Thanks to a big push from Amanda Fluker on Wednesday, the Desert Shields took another giant leap in a season that might exceed anyone’s expectations.

Fluker’s backcourt steal and layup with three seconds left lifted Cheyenne to a 51-50 win at Arbor View, bumping the team’s record to 9-1, more wins than it had all of last season.

“It was unbelievable,” said Balint, whose team finished 8-16 last season and is 4-0 in the Northwest League this season. “My girls don’t quit. I don’t know why they won’t quit, but they won’t. I just know when the game is on the line, I’m going to get the best out of them. Tonight was the next step in the journey.”

Britnee Shaw’s 3-pointer with 34 seconds left put the Desert Shields up 49-48, but Arbor View cashed in on an inbound play from center court as Erika Lang found Ashley Dawkins alone under the basket for a layup with 22 seconds to go, giving Arbor View the lead.

Cheyenne missed a 12-foot jumper, and the Aggies grabbed the rebound but couldn’t solve the Desert Shields’ press. As an Arbor View guard curled back to her left, Fluker poked the ball loose and went in for an uncontested layup.

“I just had to go hard or go home, and I wanted to win,” Fluker said. “We never had any doubt. We’re a confident team.”

Consecutive three-point plays by Taryn Hicks gave the Desert Shields a 39-33 lead in the third quarter, but the Aggies battled back behind posts Lang and Jenna Valenzuela.

 

The Aggies’ inside combo gave Cheyenne fits. Valenzuela had 15 points and 16 rebounds and Lang 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Hicks led Cheyenne with 14 points. Fluker scored 10, none bigger than the final two.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Balint said. “This is very impressive for what this program has been. When I got this program, we needed to take steps. A 9-1 record, ear to ear I’m smiling.”