Vigil answers Doherty's hopes

From start to finish, it was the Angela Vigil show.

The 5-foot-5 senior scored Doherty’s first 12 points before she clinched the game with two free throws in the final seconds to give the hosting Spartans (8-7 overall, 2-0 5A Metro League) the 49-48 win over Rampart (8-7, 0-2) Thursday night.

The final 20 seconds had momentum rolling back-and-forth.

And yes, the packed Doherty gymnasium of Rams and Spartans fans loved every ounce of it.

“That was probably a really fun game for spectators to watch,” Rampart coach Megan Leatham said. “It was a good basketball game.”

Down 45-44, Doherty threw the ball inbounds with 22 seconds to go in regulation.

Vigil penetrated the lane, before she kicked it out to a wide open Jordan Nelson, who stroked a 3 to give the Spartans the 47-45 lead with 15 seconds remaining.

“I knew she would hit it,” Vigil said. “We were feeling great after that.”

But not for long.

After Leatham called a timeout, the Rams circled the perimeter with the ball on the succeeding possession, before it came to their leader, Macy Myers, who hit a 3 from atop the perimeter for the 48-47 lead with 6 seconds to go.

“The play had a lot of options it could have gone to,” Leatham said. “And she was open and hit the shot. It was a great shot.”

But in the end, the night belonged to Vigil.

With 5.7 seconds to go, Doherty heaved the ball to midcourt where the ball deflected off the fingertips of three leaping players — right into the hands of Vigil.

“That wasn’t how the play was drawn up,” Doherty coach Pat McKiernan said. “But it tips into the hands of Angela. Who else would you rather get the ball in that situation than her?”

Vigil paused momentarily, before she started towards the hoop, getting fouled along the way.

The senior pumped her fist, and then focused. She knew the situation.

“I was nervous,” Vigil said. “I mean I really wanted to make that first one, and then it least we’d have tied it.”

She did. And as the ball flicked the twine, Vigil took a deep breath.

“Then I wanted two,” she said,” you know, I didn’t want a tie. I’d rather have the win, of course.”

Vigil then rattled in the second free throw for her 23rd point of the night; before Myers took the following inbound to midcourt and heaved the ball off the back of the rim at the buzzer.

“(Vigil) was spectacular tonight. This is what we wanted from her this season,” McKiernan said. “She was great on both ends tonight.”

Rampart led 23-17 at half, before Doherty rallied to take the 41-29 lead early in the fourth.