SAN JUAN — PSJA North’s Carolina Sanchez scored 21 points and hit what proved to be the game-winning free throw with 9 seconds left in overtime as the Raiders edged PSJA High, 71-70, in a District 31-6A clash Friday.
In a game featuring 11 ties and six lead changes, PSJA High suffered its first loss of the year (10-1, 4-1) after coming in ranked ninth in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. The Raiders improved to 2-2 and 1-1.
With the score tied at 70, Sanchez was fouled in the backcourt with nine seconds remaining. Both teams were in the double-bonus by that point, meaning she was granted two foul shots.
Sanchez went on to miss the first.
“I told myself I’ve worked too hard to not make this,” Sanchez said afterward. “I knew I was going to make that (next) shot.”
The senior guard went on to sink the ensuing free throw for a one-point lead. Following a timeout, the Bears raced the ball up the floor. Lesly Tinoco bounced a pass to Norma Mendez on the baseline, but her jumper went off the rim. The buzzer sounded a couple of seconds later, ending regulation.
The Raiders outscored PSJA High 8-7 in the overtime period.
Sanchez also drained four 3-pointers and produced in the clutch, netting 10 of her total in either the fourth quarter or in overtime.
“In the beginning, I was struggling but I knew I had to shoot myself out of my slump,” Sanchez said. “I knew once I hit one, I could keep going.”
Angel Lozano added 18, Trinity Bane had 16 and Emma Lucio netted 14 for the Raiders. Both Bane, who had multiple blocked shots and rebounds, and Lucio fouled out in the second half.
“Two of our best players fouled out and other girls came off the bench and fought hard,” Randy Bocanegra, the Raiders’ 12-year coach, said. “Our guards did an exceptional job of attacking the basket. (Carolina) stepped up big. One game doesn’t make an entire season but I think this is a boost for us.”
PSJA High’s Kaylah Hernandez scored a season-high 30 points before fouling out with 44 seconds left in regulation. Other contributors for the Bears included Mendez (13 points), Ileana Martinez (12) and Heaven Estrada (10).
PSJA North led 53-47 with 5:52 left in the fourth quarter before Hernandez scored 11 of the next 16 Bears’ points. Her putback with 58 seconds left tied the game at 63. The Bears missed a potential game-winning shot (a running jumper from 14-feet out) at the horn, ending regulation.
Rebounds favored the Raiders (44-42) but the Bears had fewer turnovers (20 to 23). PSJA High hit 17 of 27 free throws, while PSJA North nailed 12 of 19 attempts.
The Raiders led 14-8 late in the first quarter, before the Bears engineered a 14-0 run for a 22-14 lead after Estrada hit nothing but net on a 3-point shot with 4:22 showing in the second frame. The Raiders regrouped and finished the half on a 14-5 run capped by Lucio’s baseline jump shot which just beat the buzzer for a 28-27 Raiders lead at the break.