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TAYLORSVILLE — Livia Borges woke up this morning in Arizona, played a pivotal club soccer game, and flew home around 3:30 p.m. with just enough time to join her Layton girls basketball teammates ahead of their Class 5A state semifinal against fellow undefeated Copper Hills.
And she still had time to take over down the stretch.
The junior Utah women's soccer commit scored five of her eight points in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime Friday, and Layton handed the Grizzlies their first loss of the season, 46-44 in the Class 5A state semifinals at Salt Lake Community College.
"I felt it when I first came in. It was over 80 degrees, and I was kind of dying when I got here," said Borges, who also had six rebounds, four assists and five steals. "But I thought I could sacrifice eight more minutes of my life, and we could go to a championship game. I felt bad, but my team was positive and helped pick me up. It helped me a lot."
Hailey Bassett totaled 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Lancers (24-0), who advanced to face Sky View (22-2) in the 5A state championship Saturday at 1 p.m. at SLCC.
Borges wasn't the only one feeling fatigue by the end of the night.
"I'm totally drained. I'm elated that we are in the finals, but I am emotionally drained," Layton coach Van Price said. "That was a hard game. And it's typical of two 23-0 teams; that's the kind of game you want, and it's the kind of game the fans came to see. It could've gone either way."
The game shaped up as if it were scripted with a battle of both unbeaten teams in a championship atmosphere — the final game of the night, with both teams tied at 38-points apiece following regulation.
But the officials lined up the players in the wrong direction on the opening tip of overtime, and Layton won the ball. Copper Hills (23-1) set up defending what it thought was the team's own basket, and Layton followed suit — until the Lancers' assistant coaches screamed at point guard Sunnie Martinez to drive the other direction.
Martinez found a streaking Clara Wood, who cruised in untouched for a fast-break layup 30 seconds into the extra period that proved to be the difference.
"I thought we were going the other way, too, until I saw my coaches," said Wood, who finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three steals. "I just went down the court, and was scared it would be the wrong basket."
Copper Hills attempted to protest the overtime period based on the officiating error after the game. But protests must be filed before the end of the ensuing dead-ball period in order to be valid, according to a UHSAA spokesman.
Wood also tied the game with 1:57 left in regulation and scored four of the Lancers' eight points in the extra session. Much of the late game was played without Utah State signee Bassett, who earned her fourth foul early in the third quarter.
"I was pretty sad; I thought I was out. But I'm so proud of my team for stepping up in the last few minutes."
Even after the confusion, and a quick 6-0 spurt to open overtime, Copper Hills gave itself a chance. Amberly Lazenby swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:00 on the clock to pull within 44-41, and the Lancers missed 3 of 4 free throws on the next two possessions.
Mikelle Magalogo made a three from the same spot as Lazenby with 13 seconds remaining, pulling the Grizzlies within one at 45-44. But they could get no closer, as Borges hit 1 of 2 free throws with nine seconds remaining to hold on for the win.
"That's what she does. She's such an integral part of our team," Price said of Borges. "She's got that extra energy, the extra speed, and a will to succeed that never ends."
Copper Hills' Shirsten Wissinger finished with a game-high 22 points, including 3 of 5 shooting from 3-point range. But the senior picked up her fifth foul while driving for what would have been the winning layup in the final minute.
Layton 46, Copper Hills 44 (OT)
CP. HILLS 8 14 8 8 6 — 44
LAYTON 17 6 9 6 8 — 46
CH: Magalogo 7; Sisler 5; Wissinger 22; Lazenby 5; Hodge 5. LAY: Borges 6; Foster 2; Martinez 6; Bassett 16; Wood 11; James 3.
Sky View 63, American Fork 55
SKY VIEW 15 15 10 23 — 63
AM. FORK 14 16 16 9 — 55
SV: Chapman 5; Krebs 10; Nielson 17; Carlsen 17; Hale 6; Harper 4; Monson 4. AF: Palmer 3; Farnsworth 3; Franson 5; Moeaki 14; Shepherd 13; Stephenson 7; Andrus 2; Holmstead 8.
Both teams had opportunities at a game-winner in regulation, and both teams missed, sending a game that many felt should have been the state final into overtime.
Magalogo finished with seven points and four rebounds, and also drew three fouls while guarding Bassett that sent the Layton star to the bench for much of the second and third quarters.
Layton jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the first quarter. But Copper Hills rallied with back-to-back buckets from Wissinger and Magalogo to pull within one, 23-22, at halftime.
The lengthy, emotional game led each Lancer to nod her head at the same one-word response when asked how they were going to celebrate the win.
"Sleep," Borges said. "We need to get ready for a championship, too."
