Tenley Pearce capped off a 29-point game by sinking a free throw with 4.1 seconds on the clock Saturday as the D.P. Todd Trojans' senior girls held off the Duchess Park Condors for a 73-72 win.
Squeals of delight erupted from the Trojans after Pearce's shot, which secured third place at the D.P. Todd senior girls icebreaker basketball tournament.
Trojans' coach Dave Zielke said the win was redemption after the team lost by 20 points to the Condors the week before at the KRSS Icebreaker and a nice reward for the Grade 10 and 11 girls after a hard week of practice.
"We're playing way better as a team - our ball movement is way better, our defence is better and the whole team is pulling together," said Zielke. "They've come a long way in just six games this season."
The Trojans have built a 4-2 record, including a loss to Cedars Christian in the first league game last Wednesday. D.P. Todd is compiled of six members of the 2010-2011 junior team as well as three returning players from the senior team.
In the third-place game, the Trojans took advantage of the Condors' slow start to build a 12-0 lead, but by half-time it was Duchess Park with momentum, overtaking the Trojans 35-30.
"They got a couple of quick, fast breaks on us and we just fell flat," said Zielke. "It didn't upset the team, that's the way we play. We were able to come back because the team just never gives up."
D.P. Todd was able to fight back to tie the game at 49-49 at the end of three quarters and it was a seesaw battle in the final 10 minutes.
Pearce had 21 of her 29 points in the final 20 minutes, while Grade 10 rookie Dorion Van Caeseele paced the the Trojans, putting up 19 points and pacing the team with her leadership on the floor.
Carly Shaw-Maclaren led the Condors with 21 points, while Emily Warkentin had 16.
"It's just driving hard and taking chances when shooting," said Shaw-Maclaren on leading her team in points, crediting teammate Cassie Rerick. "She's really good at telling me where to go and how to get open."
The Condors beat Prince George Secondary Polars 54-45 in their opening game, before falling 76-61 to the eventual champion, Houston Christian Wildcats. D.P. Todd easily earned a semifinal berth with a 77-17 win over the Kelly Road Roadrunners, before losing 51-48 to the Nechako Valley Viqueens.
The Wildcats beat the Viqueens in the final 73-39.
In the seventh-place game, it was the Cedars Eagles over the Roadrunners 91-25, while the Polars beat the College Heights Cougars 65-47 for fifth.
The final high school league games before Christmas break are Wednesday, while Duchess Park hosts the annual Condor Classic on Thursday and Friday.
"I'm kind of nervous and scared to play in front of the whole school," said Shaw-Maclaren, who turned 15 today.
The Viqueens and North Peace from Fort St. John will join the Prince George teams in the two-day, eight-team tournament, which starts Thursday at 5 p.m. The final is scheduled for Friday at 4:45 p.m.
