DIVISION I-A GIRLS: Crusaders win title with end to losing streak

RENO — Sam Caruth wasn't around when the rivalry between the Faith Lutheran and Spring Valley girls basketball teams started.

But the significance of Saturday's victory wasn't lost on the Crusaders' junior guard.

"We knew we were going to get them," an emotional Caruth said. "We were ready for the fight."

Caruth finished with a game-high 28 points, and Faith Lutheran exorcised two seasons worth of demons with a 50-47 win over Spring Valley in the Division I-A state title game at UNR's Lawlor Events Center.

The Crusaders (23-8) had lost seven straight games to Spring Valley, including a 58-40 setback in last season's state final. The Grizzlies won the three previous meetings this season by an average of 19 points, but Faith Lutheran threw a new wrinkle at Spring Valley this time to capture the second state title in program history.

"I haven't cried in a long time," Faith Lutheran coach Jennifer Karner said. "I had some tears of joy today."

The Crusaders used a man-to-man defense for the first time against Spring Valley (29-4), and the move seemed to catch the Grizzlies by surprise.

Spring Valley made only 14 of its 52 field-goal attempts (27 percent). Essence Booker had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Kayla Harris scored 10, but the sophomore standouts went a combined 6-for-33 from the field.

"Those two are both great players," Karner said. "We knew, especially after halftime, they would be working to take over the game and lead their team like they do so well. Our goal was just to keep between them and the basket. Make somebody else beat us."

Booker went coast to coast for a layup to tie the game at 38 with 5:41 to play, and Harris made 1 of 2 from the foul line with 2:22 left to put the Grizzlies on top 41-40, their first lead since 13-12 early in the second quarter.

Spring Valley pushed the lead to 42-40, but Caruth, a transfer from Rosemount (Minnesota), hit her sixth 3-pointer with two minutes remaining to put the Crusaders back on top for good.

"I was just focused," Caruth said. "I told myself I have to do this, help the team."

Caruth then went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 49.6 seconds to help Faith Lutheran hang on. Spring Valley had a chance to tie the score on its final possession, but Alyssa Scott's 3-pointer at the buzzer didn't fall.

"Our goal, no matter win or lose today, was to go out and make them remember that they're playing the Crusaders, and we wanted to have a say in that," Karner said.

Caruth made four 3-pointers in the first half on the way to 16 points and outscored Spring Valley by herself as the Crusaders led 27-15 at halftime.

But the Grizzlies turned up their full-court pressure in the third quarter to force six turnovers and used an 11-0 run to get back in the game.

"We didn't execute anything of what was the game plan in the first half, and that's a credit to Faith Lutheran. They came out and took the game in the first half," Spring Valley coach Billy Hemberger said. "We just didn't play team basketball, what got us here. We didn't do it. In the second half, we did, and that's why we were able to fight back."

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ