#12 seed Hamilton High School girls are determined to win it all this season.
Thursday evening they proved it with a big 52-50 victory over #1 seed Mesa Mountain View HS - advancing to the state finals where they will now face the nation's #1 team in the lady Knights of St. Mary's HS.
Hamilton led by as many as 20 points in the first half, after 5-foot-10 senior forward Cassidee Ranger blazed 5 three-pointers in the game's first half.
After the Toros trailed 48-32 with under 6 minutes remaining in the game, 6-foot-2 junior post Jordan Jensen scored 9-straight points to bring her team back. Jensen's lay-up with 1:55 remaining tied the game at 48.
Hamilton 6-foot senior guard/forward Aliyah Dickson would hit a pair of free throws after being fouled - giving the Huskies a 50-48 lead with 48.7 seconds left to play.
6-foot senior forward Lauren Evans would hit both of her free throws with 6.7 seconds remaining to clinch the big playoff victory.
Cassidee Ranger and Aliyah Dickson had a team-high 15 points each for the Huskies in the win.
Jordan Jensen finished with a team-high 15 points in the loss, while 5-foot-9 senior guard Arnecia Hawkins (Arizona State signee) added 10.
Hamilton's championship berth is the first in the school's young history.
