Freels lifts Skyhawks

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 | 10:10 a.m.

Known throughout the state for the junior duo of Jayme Connors and Nikki Hitchens, Silverado's girls basketball team got a major boost from an unheralded senior Wednesday night.

With her team trailing visiting Las Vegas by two points and 10 seconds remaining, Skyhawk Sara Freels stole an inbounds pass and converted a short baseline jump shot to send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Freels hit another key jumper to help her club to a tough 79-78 victory in a battle of division leaders and 1999 state qualifiers.

"Sara's the kind of kid that needed a good ballgame," said Silverado coach Diane Hernandez, whose third-ranked club improved to 9-1 on the season. "Everybody gets overshadowed with Jayme and Nikki, but they understand what's going on."

Though ragged at times, the game was a nail-biter throughout, as each team attempted to stake its claim as the Sunrise Region's top club.

The Skyhawks brought a 52-48 lead into the fourth quarter and extended the margin to eight points on a putback by Connors (26 points, 14 rebounds) and a jumper by Hitchens (23 points).

But the Wildcats (6-2) came charging back, going on a wild 20-8 run to build a four-point lead of their own. Area leading scorer Jasmere Kirby (29 points, six rebounds), keyed the spurt for Las Vegas on the defensive end, picking up two of her game-high 10 steals during that span.

"We knew Las Vegas was going to come out and play," Hernandez said. "We knew we had to control (Kirby). We didn't do a good job of that tonight."

Indeed, with 13 seconds left and Las Vegas ahead 68-64, it appeared Kirby's efforts, along with those of Melissa Cejas (16 points, nine rebounds), had been enough to get the ninth-ranked Wildcats over the top.

Silverado was far from finished, however, as Connors converted a pair of free throws to set up Freels' critical steal and shot.

"I just saw the ball bounce off (a Las Vegas player's) head and I took it and shot it," said Freels, who finished with 10 points. "It was the greatest feeling in my life."

Added Hernandez: "Sarah has the best jump shot on the team. I'd love to see her utilize it more."

Early in overtime, a Kirby free throw gave the visitors a brief 72-71 advantage. But moments later, Freels hit a 14-footer, Hitchens scored on a layup and Connors converted a 3-point play and the hosts never trailed again.

"I thought early in the game we were too unselfish ... and we're still trying to figure out how to use the clock to our best advantage," Hernandez said. "But they found some heart in the last two minutes."