By JIM RUMBLE

In a game that may have decided the champion of section 6AA, the Avonworth girls’ basketball team went down to the wire to pull out a 51-50 win at home against section rival Sto Rox last Thursday.

The 'Lopes got an unprecedented effort from Tara Gallupe, who finished with 31 points and 14 rebounds, and were able to withstand a bombardment of offense from the Vikings’ perimeter.

Although Sto Rox hit on 13 three-pointers in the game, Avonworth succeeded defensively in keeping the ball out of the hands of Dee Dee King, who was limited to one point in the contest.

"That's what kept them in the game," said coach Bob Schulz of the Vikings’ success from the perimeter.

"We had to stay with our game plan - they're too tough of a match-up to do things differently," Schulz said.

The Lady ‘Lopes executed their plan well in the first quarter, as they were able to patiently move the ball around the Sto Rox zone defense before finding Gallupe inside for scores. A three-pointer by Molly Frew, a baseline jumper by Lauren Mayernik and 11 points inside by Gallupe sent the 'Lopes to a 16-11 lead by the end of the quarter.

Sto Rox took advantage of an 8-2 run to take their first lead at 19-18 with three minutes gone by in the second quarter. The lead changed hands a couple of times until the Vikings hit on two threes in an 8-0 run that had the 'Lopes trailing 31-25 with 1:07 left in the quarter.

Catherine Costa, who had seven points in the period, scored on a pull-up jumper to stop the run, but the Lady ‘Lopes had a little luck on their side. Marissa Milbert banked in a shot from 30 feet just as the half ended with Avonworth down 31-30.

When the Vikings cooled off slightly to start the third quarter, Avonworth took advantage. Gallupe scored all of the points in a 7-0 run that put the 'Lopes in front 37-31 with 3:41 left in the period. Sto Rox regained their touch from the outside to answer with a 7-0 run of their own and reclaim the lead at 38-37 with just under two minutes left in the quarter.

The teams exchanged baskets, but Gallupe converted a three-point play and then hit a jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer to put the 'Lopes in front 44-40 going into the fourth quarter.

Sto Rox hit three from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter while outscoring Avonworth 10-5 to pull into a tie at 50-50 with 1:32 remaining. Gallupe hit one of two tries from the line to put the 'Lopes ahead as Avonworth managed to hang on to seize the 51-50 win.

"I just think these kids came to play tonight," Schulz said of his team. "They followed the game plan precisely, never gave in and did a great job at the end."