With the Boyd Buchanan girls’ basketball team mounting a valiant comeback late in Friday night’s Division II-A District 2 tournament final, Makyla Skaggs provided the response Notre Dame needed.
The senior guard drained a 3-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left in regulation, then soon after pulled down a big rebound on the defensive end to help the Lady Fighting Irish secure their first district championship since 2018.
Despite a 12-point lead nearly evaporating in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame (22-8) held on for a memorable 31-30 win in the game at the Silverdale Center.
“You have to have confidence to make those big shots late,” Lady Irish coach Jason Hill said. “Everything was stacked up against us late. Boyd made a run, we turned it over and missed free throws. Sometimes it comes down to a player making a big-time play in a big-time game. Makyla was confident in that moment and really stepped up as a senior.”
Skaggs’ 3 was set up in part by freshman guard Maliyah Maples, who shook multiple defenders off the dribble to find her teammate open in the left corner for a risky shot that paid off with a 27-25 lead in the final 40 seconds.
“We had to hustle and not give up,” said Skaggs, who finished with nine points. “We have worked so hard for this moment. In that moment I felt great about putting up the shot and it going in. That was so crazy. We finally made it, and I am so happy.”
Notre Dame has won 10 of its past 11 games.
Senior point guard and district MVP Kenzie Campbell was stellar once again, backing her opponents down in the paint for big buckets and securing big offensive rebounds. She had 12 of her 13 points by the halfway point of the third quarter to give Notre Dame a 22-8 lead.
“We came together before the season and said this was the year,” said Campbell who also had a flashy full-court assist to Skaggs in the first quarter. “We all have a shirt that says T.E.A.M on it. It stands for toughness, effort, attitude and moxie. “We have come together as a team and have found a way to do something special.”
Boyd Buchanan (22-6) was led by freshman Sarah Durham, who made a trio of 3-pointers, the last at the final buzzer.
The Lady Buccaneers scored 18 points in the fourth as Dani Reeves and Jalisa Sanders also helped spur the late rally by combining for eight points.
Notre Dame boys 39, Boyd Buchanan 37: Notre Dame sophomore Cole McCormick took the inbounds pass and faked a handoff before crashing to the hoop for the winning basket at the buzzer.
Senior teammate Tim Vaughn scored a game-high 13 points, had a block off the backboard early and added a pair of steals in helping his team to a 13-5 lead after one quarter.
“We haven’t had a district championship in so long,” said Vaughn, who helped Jonathan Adams’ team improve to 22-6. “We wanted it this year. It was heartbreaking losing to Boyd two years in a row and losing to (Chattanooga Christian School) my freshman year. We just had to get it. It was hard. Boyd is a good team.”
Ryan Lopez scored 13 points to lead Boyd Buchanan (16-11).
McCormick’s winner was his lone basket of the game against a tough defense.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.