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WESTERN D GIRLS BASKETBALL

WESTERN D GIRLS: Schultz's late shot lifts Valley

Jumper caps 29-point outing by Cavs point guard

By Scott Martin smartin@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Cindy Schultz has had a number of memorable moments at the Augusta Civic Center. She added another highlight to her reel Monday morning.

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INSIDE OUT: Valley High School’s Cindy Schultz, right, and Hali McAuilkin, left, defend Greater Portland Christian School’s Robyn Waugh during a Western Class D quarterfinal game Monday in Augusta.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

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Schultz scored on a baseline runner with less than 10 seconds left to give the Valley High School girls basketball team a 54-53 win against Greater Portland Christian in a Western D regional quarterfinal game at the Augusta Civic Center.

"She's pretty high percentage with her shots, so we all felt pretty good about her taking that shot," said Valley junior forward Hali McQuilkin, who finished with 11 points and 21 rebounds.

No. 3 Valley (12-6) advanced to play No. 2 Rangeley in the regional quarterfinals Thursday. No. 6 Greater Portland Christian ended the season 13-5.

Schultz, who finished with 29 points, tied the tournament record for 3-pointers in a game with five. She also hit five 3s in a game during the 2009 tournament. Valley graduate Kristen Baker also hit five 3s in a game twice. Schultz also holds the Western D record for 3-pointers in a tournament with 13.

She got going offensively early, scoring 15 points in the first half, but her late-game heroics allowed Valley to advance.

Greater Portland Christian rallied from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to take a 49-46 lead with 1 minute, 56 seconds left. The teams traded the lead back-and-forth and the Lions led 53-52 on pair of foul shots by Liz Garland (team-high 22 points) late in the quarter.

Valley missed a shot but was awarded possession on a jump ball under their own hoop. McQuilkin missed a shot underneath, but Schultz was able to gather the rebound off the floor, split a pair of defenders and hit a shot while falling down with about five seconds left.

"I knew there were less than 10 seconds left so I had to shoot and I hoped they'd foul me," Schultz said. "They didn't foul me, but it went in."

Greater Portland Christian got a great look for the game-winner on the other end, but Elaine Beech's shot fell short and Shannon Rich grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Valley.

"You hope that that is what they are going to be able to do, is to be poised at the end, we have great senior leadership," said Valley coach Gordon Hartwell, who earned his 200th victory. "I was a little concerned when we lost (senior guard) Jocelyn (Laweryson) and how that would emotionally affect us in the scope of everything else that was going on. But I was real proud of how they did step up and how they did handle it."

Laweryson, who missed significant time this season with a torn ACL in her right knee, reinjured the knee in the fourth quarter. Hartwell said her status for Thursday's semifinal is uncertain.

Valley was in control early, taking a 16-5 lead after the first quarter behind nine points by Schultz. The Cavaliers led by nine at the half and stretched their lead to 11 in the third quarter. That's when Suzanne Gonzalez got going for Greater Portland Christian. Gonzalez scored 10 points in the third quarter and five more in the fourth. She finished with 18.

The Lions tied it with 2:23 left on a bucket by Garland, who then gave them the lead with a three-point play with 1:56 left. Gonzalez fouled out 18 seconds later and the teams traded baskets until Schultz hit the game-winner.

"A lot of these girls are seniors, so they are mentally prepared for this," Schultz said. "We pulled through."

Scott Martin -- 621-5618

smartin@centralmaine.com