SUNRISE GIRLS: Seniors stand guard during Coronado’s decisive run

Two undersized guards. Two loose balls. One season extended.

Seniors Dajah Washington and Karlie Thorn made two huge hustle plays in the final 1:17 to lift Coronado’s girls basketball team to a 60-59 win at Canyon Springs in a Sunrise Region quarterfinal Wednesday.

The Cougars (18-10) will face Foothill (20-7) in a semifinal at 6:20 p.m. today at Liberty.

“That’s what you want out of your seniors. They’ve got to take over the game,” Coronado coach Rich Santigate said. “We have a senior-dominated team, and our guards had to play a lot of minutes in this game because we have a short rotation.”

After Taylor Tyrell made two free throws to give the Cougars a 58-57 lead, Washington, a 5-foot-6-inch guard, dived near the Canyon Springs bench to grab a loose ball and force a jump ball that gave Coronado possession.

The Cougars took almost a minute off the clock before the Pioneers (15-8) finally fouled Kayla Watterson with 19 seconds left.

Watterson missed both free throws, but Thorn, a 5-8 guard, got perfect position on the rebound of the second missed shot and grabbed the ball away from Canyon Springs’ Dre’Una Edwards, a 6-0 post.

Edwards fouled Thorn, who made both free throws with 17.5 seconds left.

“That’s just hustle,” Santigate said of Thorn’s play. “It’s playoff basketball, and that’s what we talk about. We have a nice, tight group, and they go out there and play hard. Good things happen.”

Trailing by three, the Pioneers used their final timeout with 14.1 seconds to play, but managed only a wide-open shot under the basket by Alexia Thrower with 1.5 seconds left. Coronado didn’t need to inbound the ball as time expired.

Thorn scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half, including her own 9-0 run in the middle of the third quarter that gave Coronado a 39-28 lead before Canyon Springs rallied.

Washington, who spent most of the first half penetrating into the lane, then dishing passes to her teammates, scored nine of her 11 points in the second half and had eight rebounds.

“You could see it in her eyes. She wanted to play,” Santigate said. “This team all year has been an overachieving team. We don’t have that one superstar player, but we have girls who have bought into what we’re doing.”

Watterson scored 11 and Tyrell 10 for Coronado.

Edwards, who sat out the second quarter because of foul trouble, led Canyon Springs with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Thrower scored 18.

Green Valley 60, Silverado 31 — At Green Valley, Ellee Barton had 14 points, eight steals and four assists to lead the Gators by the Skyhawks.

Brooke Haney added nine points, and Yamilei Rodriguez had 10 rebounds for Green Valley (19-9). The Gators play at Liberty (23-3) at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Monet Salazar led Silverado (11-15) with 10 points.

Liberty 69, Rancho 40 — At Liberty, Nancy Caballero had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Patriots by the Rams.

Paris Strawther added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Liberty, which got 16 points from Kealy Brown.

LaKissa Martin scored 17 points to pace Rancho (16-12).

Foothill 62, Las Vegas 31 — At Foothill, Mikayla Yeakel led a balanced attack with nine points as the Falcons downed the Wildcats.

Katey Roquemore and Trinity Betoney each had eight points for Foothill, which had 12 players score and led 39-7 at the half.

Dajsia Blackshire scored 11 points to lead Las Vegas (8-19).