When Canyon Crest senior Alisha Eckberg hobbled off the basketball court with 30.3 seconds left in the third quarter of yesterday's Division III championship game at Jenny Craig Pavilion, her teammates were concerned.
The Ravens held a four-point lead over Our Lady of Peace, but without Eckberg on the floor, Canyon Crest's prospects for a victory most certainly would take a hit.
Her absence was brief. Eckberg returned to finish with a season-high 31 points and eight rebounds, carrying the Ravens to a 56-51 victory.
The win allowed Canyon Crest (20-11) to claim its first section championship in the school's four-year varsity history.
Eckberg, who missed 12 games with an ankle injury during the season, had regained her stride three weeks ago.
“My ankle was already sprained,” Eckberg said. “I just resprained it a little. But this was for (the championship), something we've been shooting for since the beginning of the year.”
Eckberg hit nine-of-14 shots from the field and 11-of-14 free throws. She made her final eight free throws in the second half.
“I was in pain,” said Eckberg, who did not show it.
OLP (27-4), spearheaded by Ashlee Guay's 21 points, 11 rebounds and six steals, fought back to tie it at 45-45 with 3:19 left.
Eckberg hit a pair of free throws and added a basket to vault Canyon Crest back in front to stay at 49-45.
“This was a tougher game than I thought it would be,” Eckberg said. “But we worked too hard to come up short.”
