By Aaron Swaney
Herald Writer
EVERETT – For someone who confessed to being nervous during her game, Archbishop Murphy’s Lauren Coate sure didn’t show it.
With her team in a tie at 38-all with less than 2 minutes to play, Coate took over and willed the Wildcats to a 42-38 victory over Darrington Friday night in a non-league girls basketball game.
Single-handedly Coate took over the last two minutes. She hit the game-winning shot, blocked Darrington’s next attempt, then iced the game with two free throws after she was fouled on the last possession.
Nevermind the fact that she also set a new school record with 19 rebounds.
“She’s our best player,” said Archbishop Murphy coach Bill Kelley of Coate. “She’s absolutely clutch and she never quits.”
Coate also scored 19 points to lead all scorers in the game.
Coate’s last-minute heroics were set up by a third-quarter let down and an eventual fourth-quarter comeback by Archbishop Murphy.
Coming out of halftime with an eight-point cushion, Archbishop Murphy watched it evaporate into thin air.
A hot-shooting Darrington team went on a 10-1 run to open the third quarter and then pulled off a 3-point play and hit a 3-pointer to pull ahead 35-28 going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, though, Archbishop Murphy discovered a remedy – good pressure.
Behind a relentless defense, the Wildcats rattled off a 10-3 run to eventually tie the score at 38 and set up the last couple minutes of action.
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Darrington-Jones 13, Meece 9, Nations 4, Padgett 2, Bryson 6, Perrault 2, Koch 2. Archbishop Murphy-Coate 19, Linscott 9, Taylor 5, Lyons 4, Terhar 3, Enger 2. 3-point goals-Bryson 1. Records-Archbishop Murphy 4-2 overall. Darrington 3-1.
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