Central overcomes a double-digit deficit on a last-second shot in win over Clovis
A basket by Savana Chase with 4.3 seconds remaining sent the No. 4 seed Central High girls basketball team to the Central Section Division I semifinals
And for the third time this season, the game between the Grizzlies and No. 5 Clovis ended in another close one, this time won by Central 41-39.
Grizzlies coach Chris Maxey was relieved that his team overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half to pull through.
“It was a battle,” he said. “I told our girls we gotta finish. We’re down and we come back and we finish. We gotta finish and we gotta be strong.”
Central trailed 27-17 at the half, but went on a 12-0 run in the third quarter for a 34-29 lead.
Both teams split during the Tri-River Athletic Conference. The games ended with the Grizzlies winning the first game 55-54 but lost the second 59-52 on Feb. 9.
The Grizzlies will next face top-seed Clovis West in the semifinals on Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles rolled past No. 8 Clovis East 81-34.
In the other semifinal game, No. 3 Buchanan will visit No. 2 St. Joseph.
The Bears had little trouble against No. 6 San Joaquin Memorial, routing past the Panthers 76-39. No. 10 Caruthers fell to the Knights 69-52.
The semifinal games will be played at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Other top seeds still alive include No. 1 Monache (D-II), Bakersfield Christian (D-III), Hanford West (D-V) and Kern Valley (D-VI).
This story was originally published February 17, 2024 at 9:33 AM.
