There is a point in every season where a win is needed to keep a team’s hopes for a postseason berth alive. 

The Summit High School girls basketball team was in that position as it hosted Eagle Valley High School for its first 5A Western Slope league game of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Coming off a loss to Salida High School on Saturday, Jan. 25, Summit took to the court and attempted to get back in the win column to boost the team’s spot in the Class 5A rankings. 

The teams got off to a slow start in the first quarter, using the first few minutes of the game to feel each other out and find ways to jump-start their offenses. After several back-and-forth possessions, Eagle Valley scored the first basket of the game following a steal near mid-court.

Summit responded quickly to the first basket from Eagle Valley, charging down the floor and drawing a foul. With two made free throws, junior Teagan Barth tied the game at 2-2.

Following the free throws from Barth, Eagle Valley went on a 9-0 run that frustrated and further stalled Summit. Sophomore River Close managed to stop Eagle Valley’s scoring spree, making two free throws after being fouled beneath the basket.

Still yet to score a field goal, Summit tried to close the first quarter by establishing a rhythm on offense. The Tigers were eventually rewarded for their efforts. Senior Avery Eytel, junior Phoenix Meyer and junior Elle Chabot all made layups to bring the deficit to seven points, 18-11, going into the second quarter.

After working hard to cut into Eagle Valley’s lead in the waning moments of the first frame, Summit allowed the Devils to go on an 8-0 run to begin the new quarter. Similar to the first frame, the run momentarily shocked the Tigers. Eventually, baskets from Close and junior Katelynn Smith helped the team to settle down.

Summit tried to capitalize off the momentum it gained from the two baskets, but the team struggled to find a way past the Eagle Valley defense. In the final moments before halftime, junior Kenya Rodriguez scored her first basket of the game, cashing in on a jumper from the corner. 

Eagle Valley led 35-18 going into the intermission.

Trailing by 17 points, Summit came out of the locker room and immediately tightened up on both ends of the floor. The shift in play slowed Eagle Valley’s scoring, but Summit could not get baskets to fall into the hoop.

The Tigers went close to seven minutes without scoring a point before Close made two baskets from the charity stripe. Movement across the court allowed Eagle Valley to expand its lead to 40-20 going into the final quarter of play. 

Sitting on a 20-point advantage, Eagle Valley worked to close out the game for good. Summit tried to counteract this by stepping up to the 3-point arc and draining threes. Meyer made two 3-pointers in a matter of several seconds to help keep Summit’s hopes alive.

Meyer continued to find ways to score in a hurry out of an Eagle Valley timeout. This time, instead of lighting it up from behind the 3-point arc, Meyer drove inside for the layup, drawing a foul and making the subsequent free throw for the 3-point play.

The points from Meyer ignited her teammates, leading to an Eytel layup and free throws for Meyer. On a 12-4 run to begin the fourth quarter, Summit continued to scrounge for points and force Eagle Valley turnovers.

Down by nine with close to a minute remaining, Meyer once again found her spot from behind the 3-point arc, making her fourth of the quarter to bring the score to 48-42. Meyer then drew a foul to pull the game within four points before Smith drained a 3-pointer to bring the game to 48-47 with 35.8 seconds remaining.

In need of a basket, Summit played tight but smart defense. The Tigers almost secured a steal, but they were ultimately forced to foul with close to 20 seconds remaining. With two missed free throws, Summit drove down the court for a layup. The Tigers fought through contact, but the referees called a jump ball, giving possession back to Eagle Valley.

While trying to get the ball across half court, an Eagle Valley player traveled with the ball. With the game on the line, Meyer drew a foul before making one free throw to send the game to overtime tied at 48-48.

“I was thinking that someone needed to step up and start doing something if we had any chance of coming back,” Meyer said of her play in the final quarter. “I decided to take that on myself and try to be that energy that we really needed. It worked out.”

Over the four-minute overtime period, Summit took advantage of the momentum it had gained in the fourth quarter. Smith was the first to score in extended time, making a layup and giving the Tigers a 50-48 lead.

Summit then battled up and down the floor before Eagle Valley senior Reef Kenney made a layup and drew a foul.

With both teams visibly exhausted, Summit attempted to find a way to secure the win. Meyer made a free throw to cut the team’s deficit to two, but Eagle Valley quickly went down the floor to pull to a three-point lead.

Right when it appeared Summit may be out of it for good, Rodriguez made a free throw before making a layup to tie the game. In the end, it was Rodriguez who won the game for the Tigers. With seconds remaining, Rodriguez stole the ball and drew a body foul as time expired.

As Eagle Valley fans erupted into noise, Rodriguez calmly took a deep breath as she walked to the charity stripe. The junior missed the front end of the free throws before sinking the final shot, sending the gym into a frenzy. 

Summit defeated Eagle Valley, 56-55 in overtime. 

“I felt so much pressure from everyone because the crowd had begun filling in,” Rodriguez said of her game-wining free throw. “I got in my own mindset and kept my whole mind empty. I was so happy that we won. We came back from being down by 20, and it felt amazing that we got to celebrate that win.”

The win advances Summit’s record to 9-8 overall and 1-0 in league play. As of Wednesday morning, Jan. 29, Summit ranked 29th overall in the Class 5A ranking on MaxPreps.com. With the top 32 teams earning a spot in the playoffs, it is crucial that Summit continues to notch wins over the next several weeks.

The Tigers will now have a day to prepare for its home game against No. 26 Glenwood Springs High School on Thursday, Jan. 30. 

“I am looking forward to us not getting in our heads before the game,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like the first quarter is really tough for all of us. I feel like we are going to get through it in the first quarter.”