Upholding Home Court

MARK HUMPHREY GAME JOURNAL
MARK HUMPHREY GAME JOURNAL

Sophomore guard Tayton Hopkins feels playing in Cardinal Arena is a huge honor and likes the pressure of upholding home court even if Farmington has all they can handle.

Such was the case with Tayton Hopkins crucial game-tying late 3-point play as the Lady Cardinals found the hoop when they had to pulling out a come-from-behind overtime victory -- the first contest to go into an extra session at brand-new Cardinal Arena which wasn't even yet one month old when Farmington beat Harrison, 41-34, in 5A West girls basketball on Feb. 10.

After playing four quarters without producing double digit points in any period, Farmington knuckled down defensively only yielding three points to Harrison over the last ten minutes of regulation

Needing to get in rhythm offensively the Lady Cardinals twice looked inside during the first 1:41 of the fourth period to Tahlon Hopkins their go-to post player, who sat out much of the game with foul trouble. Having just checked back in she couldn't make either shot and had her legs taken out on her way to the rebound after the second misfire. Still, Farmington found ways to score. Trish O'Connell began Farmington's fourth-quarter comeback by taking a rebound coast-to-coast and finishing with a runner.

Golden Goblin Morgan Clemence missed a driving layup. Then Tayton Hopkins was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound and made a free-throw. Harrison's athletic 5-foot-10 Taylor Tate then used her ball-handling skills to set up Briley Due. Tate penetrated and drew Farmington's interior defenders to her. Looking to pass all the way she fed Due for a layup restoring Harrison to a five-point lead of 29-24 at the 5:03 mark of the fourth, but the Golden Goblins would not score another field goal in regulation.

Tayton Hopkins scored a field goal cutting Farmington's deficit to 29-26 and following a timeout Harrison went into a weave. Due appeared to lose a contact lens and laid down in the lane. A three second violation was not called but when play resumed Clemence missed a jump-shot on the baseline. Tayton Hopkins asserted herself and drew a foul. Her first charity shot bounced in but as was the trend on this night her second was no good.

Tate could do no better after getting a step in the paint and her free-throw gave Harrison a 30-27 lead with 1:36 to go. Due got her vision problems solved and checked back in stealing a Farmington pass but the ball came loose as she crossed the timeline. Tayton Hopkins tracked it down and weaved through several Harrison defenders to score at close-range then converted a free-throw to tie the game with 1:09 showing.

"I knew I had to score. I had to push the ball," Tayton Hopkins said. "That's like a hustle play. You have to go after those balls anytime there's a loose ball on the floor because that contributes to points."

The play represented a key swing shifting the complexion of the game. Instead of Harrison extending their lead and milking the clock the visitors found themselves even with Farmington on the scoreboard, at 30-30. With this situation, the Lady Cardinals didn't have to play from behind or foul to stop the clock. They could play straight defense and force Harrison to make a shot, which the Golden Goblins could not and the game went into overtime.

Farmington rode their momentum. Having outscored Harrison 9-3 during the fourth quarter, the Lady Cardinals did so again with an 11-4 advantage in points produced during the overtime period and won, 41-34, making up for an atrocious 12 of 27 free-throw shooting.

Prior to Tayton Hopkins' 3-point play, Farmington had not converted all of their free-throw attempts in a single trip throughout the contest missing the front end of a 1-and-1 in the first half and misfiring on a potential 3-point play in the third quarter. Yet, one bold play can change everything in sports and Tayton Hopkins did her part.

Did she and the Farmington girls uphold their home-court at Cardinal Arena? The win certainly wasn't pretty yet the answer is a resounding yes and Farmington fans are still cheering what seemed like an improbable victory.

MARK HUMPHREY IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER.

Sports on 02/18/2015