Knights Hold Off Late Coyotes Rally

Higley looked in control for most of the night, but Campo Verde turned the final stretch into pure chaos before the Knights escaped with a 67-65 varsity girls basketball win.

The Knights opened with strong rhythm and clean execution, building a 16-11 lead after the first quarter. That edge grew in the second as Higley kept finding answers in the half-court, stretching the margin to 36-24 by halftime and putting Campo Verde in chase mode.

Higley pushed even harder in the third. C. Murdough was a force all night, pouring in 33 points while owning the paint on both ends. L. O'Dowd added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and C. Greenwade kept the offense steady with eight assists as the Knights carried a 57-43 lead into the fourth.

Then came the Coyotes' surge. Campo Verde cranked up the pressure defensively and started cashing in on offense, slicing the deficit down possession by possession. J. Haley scored 18 points on efficient shooting, J. Bogan-Jacobs finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and K. Parks added 12 as the comeback charge made the gym tighten up.

The final minutes had a postseason edge. Campo Verde threatened to flip the entire script, but Higley stayed composed just long enough, getting the stops and late execution it needed to survive. The Coyotes made it a one-possession game, but the Knights' work through the first three quarters held up at the buzzer.